Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Recall Alert: ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula & More

The USBC e-Newsletter, Staying Abreast, is published in a weekly news brief format, called the Weekly Wire (WW). Past issues are archived below.

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Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire - Recall Alert: ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula & More

11/14/2025

Weekly Wire: November 14, 2025

The Staying Abreast: Weekly Wire e-Newsletter is a compendium of news, actions, and resources considered to be of interest or relevance to the breastfeeding field. The newsletter aims to support the USBC mission "To drive collaborative efforts for policy and practices that create a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States." Included items are submitted for consideration or identified by the USBC e-news team via extensive online review. Whenever possible, the newsletter utilizes language directly from the primary source of an item without additional analysis or edits. In some cases, the USBC offers additional perspectives through the "USBC Insights," media and partner highlights, and the "News & Views" section. Inclusion of an item in the e-newsletter does not imply endorsement or support by the USBC of an item or organization, unless specifically noted.

In this issue:

National News
- Recall Alert: ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula
- Funding Legislation Passed to End Government Shutdown
- Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act Passes Senate
Action Opportunities
Funding Opportunities
Upcoming Events
News & Views
Journal Publications

denotes a USBC member organization news item denotes a USBC-affiliated constellation news item

National News

Recall Alert: ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism. Epidemiologic and laboratory data show that ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula might be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which is causing infant illness in multiple regions of the country. Parents and caregivers are urged to stop using any ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula immediately. ByHeart issued a recall of all ByHeart formula nationwide, including cans and single-serve sticks. The FDA’s investigation is ongoing to determine the point of contamination, and the advisory will be updated as information becomes available.

Funding Legislation Passed to End Government Shutdown

The House and Senate passed a spending package, ending the federal government shutdown that began on October 1. The legislation provides continuing appropriations for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026, maintaining current funding levels for agencies such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). It also includes new full-year appropriations for agriculture, military construction and veterans affairs, and legislative branch programs, with $8.2 billion allocated for WIC.

In the "After the Shutdown: Reaffirming Our Collective Commitment to Families and the First Food Field" blog post, USBC Executive Director Jennifer Day reflects on the shutdown’s impact on families, public health infrastructure, and the collective work to build a landscape of breastfeeding support across the United States. Highlights from the field include:

Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs: "Congress Passes Legislation Ending the Longest Government Shutdown in U.S. History"
National WIC Association: "Shutdown Deal Fully Funds WIC, Protects Fruit and Vegetable Benefits for Families"

Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act Passed by Senate

The Lactation Spaces for Veteran Moms Act (S.778/ H.R.1646) was passed by the Senate and sent to the House. The bill would ensure all medical centers managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contain a hygienic, private space specifically dedicated for women veterans and members of the public. This procedural step means the bill has been received by the House and is awaiting further action.