A mom's devastating experience with her infant, who was hospitalized after developing botulism linked to the baby formula she had been feeding. The young mother is now speaking out about what happened and calling for change.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been a number of reports of infants contracting botulism from consuming certain brands of organic baby formula made by Harmony Botanicals LLC, which has since issued recalls on the affected products.
Nicole Valdes spoke with the parents of one of 15 babies who developed the rare disease after taking the formula, and they shared their heartbreaking story.
"We were just trying to do what was best for our child," said Sarah, a mother whose infant had botulism from feeding Harmony Botanicals LLC organic baby formula. "But in the end, we almost lost her."
Sarah's 3-month-old daughter contracted botulism, which left her paralyzed and on ventilator support.
"I watched my beautiful baby girl be taken away from me because of something I trusted," Sarah said through tears. "I want to make sure that no other family has to go through this."
The FDA has warned consumers not to use the contaminated formula until further notice.
In response to the outbreak, Harmony Botanicals LLC has issued a voluntary recall of all organic baby formulas made at its facility in Kansas City.
"We take food safety very seriously and are deeply sorry for any harm caused by our products," said a company spokesperson. "We will do everything possible to prevent this type of incident from happening again."
The FDA has also launched an investigation into the outbreak, which is ongoing.
As the parents fight for justice, they say that their goal is not just about seeking compensation but also about ensuring that no other family has to suffer through what they have experienced.
"Every bottle of formula we gave our daughter, every time she took it, could have been a different story," Sarah said. "But we're grateful she's alive."
Their case highlights the need for stricter regulation and monitoring of baby formulas in the US market.
The CDC is urging parents to be vigilant about checking expiration dates and following proper storage procedures for their formula to reduce the risk of contamination.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been a number of reports of infants contracting botulism from consuming certain brands of organic baby formula made by Harmony Botanicals LLC, which has since issued recalls on the affected products.
Nicole Valdes spoke with the parents of one of 15 babies who developed the rare disease after taking the formula, and they shared their heartbreaking story.
"We were just trying to do what was best for our child," said Sarah, a mother whose infant had botulism from feeding Harmony Botanicals LLC organic baby formula. "But in the end, we almost lost her."
Sarah's 3-month-old daughter contracted botulism, which left her paralyzed and on ventilator support.
"I watched my beautiful baby girl be taken away from me because of something I trusted," Sarah said through tears. "I want to make sure that no other family has to go through this."
The FDA has warned consumers not to use the contaminated formula until further notice.
In response to the outbreak, Harmony Botanicals LLC has issued a voluntary recall of all organic baby formulas made at its facility in Kansas City.
"We take food safety very seriously and are deeply sorry for any harm caused by our products," said a company spokesperson. "We will do everything possible to prevent this type of incident from happening again."
The FDA has also launched an investigation into the outbreak, which is ongoing.
As the parents fight for justice, they say that their goal is not just about seeking compensation but also about ensuring that no other family has to suffer through what they have experienced.
"Every bottle of formula we gave our daughter, every time she took it, could have been a different story," Sarah said. "But we're grateful she's alive."
Their case highlights the need for stricter regulation and monitoring of baby formulas in the US market.
The CDC is urging parents to be vigilant about checking expiration dates and following proper storage procedures for their formula to reduce the risk of contamination.
This is so heartbreaking, 15 babies affected by the contaminated formula... it's a huge red flag 
. The fact that the company issued a recall and apologized, but still 15 babies got sick, raises more questions about how this happened in the first place. 
It's not just about compensation for these families, but also about ensuring no other family goes through what they're going through right now 
. Stricter regulation is needed, period 
.
. We need stronger safety nets in place for our kids, especially when it comes to something as essential as baby formula 
.
it's just heartbreaking thinking about how she almost lost her little one because of a trusted product. I mean, who would have thought that something as innocent as baby formula could be so deadly? 
It's like, you trust the brand, you trust the label... but clearly, that's not always the case here.
. We need to be way more careful about what we're giving our kids, especially when it comes to their health. I mean, expiration dates don't seem like a big deal, but apparently, they are 
. And storage procedures? Yeah, those need to be taken seriously too.
. We need to make sure that these companies are held accountable for their products and that parents have access to safe and reliable options. And let's not forget about the families who've already been affected by this outbreak 
. They deserve justice, and they deserve our support.
. It's always better to err on the side of caution, you know? Better safe than sorry 
. And the mom's words are so heartbreaking "I watched my beautiful baby girl be taken away from me because of something I trusted"... 
. As a parent myself, I would want my child's life to be prioritized above profits 
.
. The FDA needs to step up its game and hold companies accountable for their actions 
. And to all the parents out there, let's make sure we're doing everything we can to protect our little ones 
. We need stricter quality control measures and more transparency from manufacturers 
.
. Stricter testing and monitoring would probably help prevent these kinds of outbreaks in the future 
.
.
appears next to her]
).
. You take your chances with something you trust, and... well, not so much 
. I guess this is one reason why 'food safety' can't be taken lightly (no pun intended).
, but apparently, they're also super high-risk for botulism 
. Maybe it's time to take a step back and reevaluate our priorities - 'safety' vs 'being organic'? Yeah, that's kinda like choosing between 'having a functioning toilet' and 'owning a Tesla 
'.
.
. It's heartbreaking to see a mom fighting for justice & her child's safety 
!
. This is serious business. We need stricter regulation and monitoring in the baby formula industry ASAP 
. I'm all for keeping our babies safe, no matter what 
.
seriously though, these parents r goin thru so much and its just not right. we gotta make sure this never happens again 
ugh, the FDA needs 2 step up their game 
& stricter regulation is def needed! we cant let our babies suffer like this 