Contaminated Formula: A Portland Infant's Battle with Botulism

Tue Jan 20 2026 05:19:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

10-month-old Ashaan Carter suffers from infant botulism after consuming a recalled baby formula, resulting in severe health complications and raising alarms about food safety for vulnerable families.

Ashaan Carter, a 10-month-old boy from Portland, is recovering from infant botulism linked to contaminated ByHeart baby formula distributed through assistance programs. His condition has been critical, involving hospitalizations and reliance on a feeding tube. The case has highlighted concerns about food safety and recalled products reaching vulnerable families.

A 10-month-old boy from Portland, Oregon, named Ashaan Carter, is facing a tough recovery after contracting infant botulism attributed to consuming contaminated ByHeart baby formula, which was distributed through a program aimed at assisting impoverished families.

Ashaan's mother, Angel Carter, reported that she was given a can of the formula by her case worker from the Oregon Department of Human Services just before the product was subjected to a nationwide recall. Despite her initial hopes to transition her son off breastfeeding, the situation quickly escalated into a health crisis.

Following the consumption of the ByHeart formula, Ashaan developed severe constipation and muscle weakness, leading to an emergency hospital visit and subsequent diagnosis of presumed infant botulism. Medical professionals have stated the condition is directly linked to the tainted formula that has affected over 50 infants nationwide.

The Oregon Department of Human Services has acknowledged receiving ByHeart formula from PDX Diaper Bank, part of a broader network that distributed almost 24,000 cans of the product since its production began in March 2022, all of which have been recalled due to contamination risks.

After a two-week hospitalization and treatment with BabyBIG—a medication that provides antibodies to combat the infection—Ashaan's health deteriorated again, requiring him to be hospitalized once more. His mother expressed heartache as she watched her son struggle, describing the terrifying experience of seeing him wither away.

In light of the situation, Baby2Baby, a nonprofit involved in distributing the formula, and ByHeart have faced scrutiny. As laws suits against ByHeart are filed, food safety attorneys emphasize the importance of accountability and ensuring that safe products reach the most vulnerable families.

Currently, no new cases of infant botulism from this outbreak have been reported since December 17, signaling some relief after a tumultuous period. However, the fallout from this incident continues to raise important questions about food safety protocols and support for needy families.