Nara Organics recalls baby formula sold at Target after multistate
infant botulism outbreak
[June 15, 2026]
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nara Organics recalled its organic baby
formula sold nationwide in Target stores and online Saturday after a
multistate outbreak of infant botulism, federal authorities said.
Three babies between 2 and 5 months became ill in April and May in
California, Pennsylvania and Washington after consuming Nara Organics
Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula, which is also sold on
Nara.com, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said.
They were hospitalized and treated with the FDA-approved treatment for
infant botulism, the agency said.
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that occurs in babies
under age 1, whose gut microbiomes are immature. It is caused when
infants consume bacteria with spores that produce a toxin in the gut.
Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak
muscle tone, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems, among others.
Babies who develop those symptoms need immediate medical attention. The
sole treatment is BabyBIG, an IV medication made from blood plasma of
people immunized against botulism.
Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of
all infant formula sold in the United States, and the outbreak does not
create shortage concerns for parents and caregivers, the FDA said.
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The Food and Drug Administration seal is seen at the Hubert Humphrey
Building Auditorium in Washington, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose
Luis Magana, File)
 People who have the formula are
urged to stop using it immediately, the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control said in a statement. The formula is manufactured in Europe
but sold only in the U.S., it added.
The CDC recommended that anyone with an opened can take a picture,
record the lot number and use-by date and watch their infants for
symptoms.
“Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from
other items you feed your baby for at least a month,” the CDC said.
“If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula
away.”
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