According to IsraelNationalNews.com, a lack of vitamin B1 is the likely cause of the potentially lethal reaction in babies using a soy milk formula sold by Remedia, an Israeli company majority owned by Heinz. The formula is prepared for Remedia by German-owned Humana Milchunion.

Three babies have died, an additional number have been hospitalized.

Vitamin B1 (thiamine) is listed as an ingredient, and if entirely lacking from the finished product, babies relying excusively on the formula would have no other source of the vitamin, a complete lack of which can damage the heart and central nervous system. Doctors have begun supplementation.