Babies said to be ill with botulism earlier

Some were treated after having ByHeart formula before wider outbreak, officials say.

- BY JONEL ALECCIA

AMY MAZZIOTTI HANK MAZZIOTTI is treated in March for infant botulism in Los Angeles.

As health officials investigate more than 30 cases of infant botulism linked to ByHeart baby formula since August, parents who say their children were sickened with the same illness months before the current outbreak are demanding answers, too.

California public health officials confirmed late Friday that six babies in the state who consumed ByHeart formula were treated for botulism between November 2024 and June 2025, up to nine months before the outbreak that has sickened at least 31 babies in 15 states.

At the time, there was "not enough evidence to immediately suspect a common source," the California Department of Public Health said in a statement.

Even now, "we cannot connect any pre-August 1 cases to the current outbreak," officials said.

Parents of at least five babies said that their infants were treated for the rare and potentially deadly disease after drinking ByHeart formula in late 2024 and early 2025, according to reports shared with the Associated Press by Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer representing the families.

CHEYANNE MUMPHREY Associated Press A CONTAINER of By Heart baby formula, which was recently recalled after reports of infant botulism.

Amy Mazziotti, 43, of Burbank said her then-5month-old son, Hank, fell ill and was treated for botulism in March, weeks after he began drinking bottles filled with ByHeart formula.

Katie Connolly, 37, who lives in the Bay Area city of Lafayette, said her daughter, M.C., then 8 months old, was hospitalized in April and treated for botulism after being fed ByHeart formula, which she hoped would help the baby sleep.