FDA sends warning letters to major retailers for selling recalled formula linked to infant botulism outbreak

Kraig Pakulski 0 185 Article rating: No rating

By Jen Christensen, CNN

(CNN) — The US Food and Drug Administration sent warning letters to Target, Walmart, Kroger and Albertsons after some of the stores failed to remove recalled baby formula linked to a large infant botulism outbreak.

The FDA said it communicated with the retailers about the recall repeatedly, even sending several emails requesting plans of action to comply with the recall, but none of the companies responded to the request.

“Food safety is a shared responsibility, and it is of utmost importance that all parties in the supply chain act swiftly and vigilantly to protect our nation’s children from unsafe food,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said in a statement.

The recall of ByHeart infant formula products started November 8 and was expanded three days later to include all ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products. As of December 10, 51 children from 19 states have had suspected or confirmed cases of infant botulism after confirmed exposure to these products. All 51 have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. The outbreak investigation remains ongoing.

Infant botulism is a rare but potentially deadly infection that can happen after a baby ingests Clostridium botulinum bacteria spores. The bacteria then colonize the intestinal tract and produce neurotoxins that can lead to constipation, weakness, breathing problems and even respiratory arrest. An infant with botulism can also stop feeding well, have problems with swallowing and lose control of their head. In a typical year, fewer than 200 cases are reported in the US.

ByHeart said in a letter to parents last month that it will “continue to be focused on finding the root cause, through a rigorous audit of every step of our product development chain.”

The FDA said Monday that it sent warning letters last week to Target; Walmart; Kroger stores, including King Soopers and Smiths; and Albertsons stores, including Star Market, Jewel-Osco, Acme, Safeway and Shaw’s. Workers from the agency and state and local partners found the recalled products on shelves in “multiple locations across multiple states,” in one case three weeks after stores were sent a written recall notification.

The FDA said it communicated with the retailers about the recall repeatedly, even sending several emails requesting plans of action to comply with the recall, but none of the companies responded to the request.

Checking stores more than 4,000 times, inspectors found the recalled products in over 175 locations across 36 states, according to the FDA, although the agency says it has not received reports of recalled formula being on store shelves since November 26.

In the case of one Target store, not only was ByHeart formula still on the shelf a

Speaker Mike Johnson battles with GOP centrists over expiring health care subsidies

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By Sarah Ferris, CNN

(CNN) — Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a possible revolt from a small bloc of GOP centrists this week over the looming expiration of Covid-era Obamacare subsidies — which will spike premiums for tens of millions of Americans in 2026.

In Congress’ final work week of 2025, GOP leaders are prepared to allow the enhanced subsidies to expire, arguing that the federal dollars are helping to prop up a failing system.

But multiple Republican centrists — led by Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Jen Kiggans of Virginia — are determined to prevent that outcome, warning it will hurt tens of millions of Americans while backfiring politically on the party.

Now, some of those members insist they’re willing to go to battle against Johnson to bring their own plan up for a vote, while hoping it will put enough pressure on the Senate to send it all the way to President Donald Trump’s desk.

It’s all amounting to a politically combustible final week of the year in the US Capitol, with tensions soaring among House Republicans. The centrists argue that Johnson has offered zero options for their party to deal with the looming health care disaster, despite Republicans controlling all of Washington.

“It’s our own leadership’s fault,” one person involved in the talks told CNN. “We have given them so many off ramps.”

But GOP leaders do not plan to offer the centrists their vote without addressing a major issue: How to pay for that plan. And it’s raising questions about what those frustrated centrists might do next — including whether they’re willing to team up with Democrats to force the issue in another way.

Top Democrats, meanwhile, are not budging from their own stance – a call for a three year extension of the subsidies – refusing to endorse the other bipartisan compromises on the table.

Some GOP centrists are so frustrated with their own leadership that they are going rogue as they attempt to land a floor vote for their Obamacare subsidies proposal. They will make a public push on Tuesday as they try to force the House Rules Committee, a panel that is effectively controlled by the speaker, to agree to hold a vote on their plan, which includes an extension of the subsidies along with stricter income caps and other ways to prevent fraud. (Roughly a dozen centrists have signed onto the idea.)

“Our side said, ‘Hey, we didn’t vote for those. It’s not our fault that these things are skyrocketing.’ But we are in charge. When you’re in charge, you got to deal with it,” said Rep. Don Bacon, a retiring centrist from Nebraska who supports a bipartisan support to extend the subsidies with reforms.

Instead, House GOP leaders will offer a more narrow health care package, which has been described as a “greatest hits” of conservative health policy in the last decade. But it does not include any immediate fix to the looming premium hike.

“It’s disappointing. I really am disappointed. I really think it behooves the speaker to put the bill on the floor. If it fails, it fails,” Rep. Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey told CNN, asked about the speaker’s plans to not offer a vote on extending the subsidies.

Across the Capitol, a small bipartisan group of senators huddled Monday night to discuss the subsidies issue. But the group was tight-lipped as members departed, with no sense of whether they

Ventura man arrested after high-speed motorcycle chase Sunday afternoon

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VENTURA, Calif. (KEYT) – A 21-year-old Ventura man is in custody for felony evasion after a motorcycle chase in Ventura Sunday afternoon.

On Dec. 14, a motorcyclist, later identified as a 21-year-old Ventura man, with a female passenger evaded police during a high-speed pursuit in the east-end of Ventura stated a press release from the Ventura Police Department.

Officers initially attempted a traffic stop for a missing license plate noted the Ventura Police Department.

During the pursuit, the motorcyclist reached speeds of 90 miles per hour and used a pedestrian-only bridge over State Route 126 while evading arrest added the Ventura Police Department.

The chase was cancelled to protect the passenger who was seen being dropped off in a shopping center parking lot after the pursuing units were called off detailed the Ventura Police Department.

After being dropped off, officers spoke with the woman before the 21-year-old returned to the area and was arrested explained the Ventura Police Department.

The 21-year-old remains in custody on a charge of felony evasion and his bail was set at $55,000.

According to Ventura Police, the 21-year-old may have been involved in at least two prior police pursuits in Ventura and if confirmed, he could face additional felony evasion charges.

If you have any additional information about this case, you are asked to contact the Ventura Police at 805-339-4416.

"Driving recklessly on city streets puts the public at risk," shared Ventura Police Commander Mike Brown. "We want everyone to be safe, especially during the holidays."

The post Ventura man arrested after high-speed motorcycle chase Sunday afternoon appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

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