Nara Organics recalled its Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula sold at Target and online after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism sickened three babies between 2 and 5 months. Federal authorities urged parents to stop using the product immediately
SAN FRANCISCO — The recall landed with a specific kind of urgency: not a vague warning, but an immediate directive tied to babies too young to wait.
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. The product is also sold on Nara.com. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the infants were hospitalized and treated with the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism.
Infant botulism is rare, but it can be serious for babies under age 1. The illness occurs when infants consume bacteria with spores that produce a toxin in the gut. Because babies’ gut microbiomes are immature. the symptoms can 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.
For parents, the timing of the FDA notice matters. Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, and the FDA said the outbreak does not create shortage concerns for parents and caregivers.
The formula was manufactured in Europe but sold only in the U.S., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control added.
The CDC urged families not to wait for symptoms to confirm anything. People who have the formula are urged to stop using it immediately. The CDC also 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.”
In practice, the recall shifts the question from “Is this happening?” to “What do I do right now with what I have at home?” For families holding cans purchased for their youngest children, the answer is blunt: stop using the product and follow the CDC steps to safeguard against risk.
Target recall Nara Organics infant botulism BabyBIG FDA CDC guidance baby formula lot number use-by date
So like… Target just sells poison formula now? Wow.
My cousin said botulism is from canned food? Like how does powdered formula even get that. I’m confused if it’s even contagious or whatever.
Okay but they said it’s only 3 babies, right? That’s still awful but I feel like “less than 1%” means it’s probably fine for most people. Also why is the cure an IV made from blood plasma… that sounds sketchy.
This is why I don’t buy “organic” anything for infants. If it was made in Europe but only sold here, doesn’t that mean there was a warning somewhere that got ignored? I saw the part about take a picture and write the lot number but what if you tossed the can already… do you just guess? And throwing it away after a month feels like a lot, like I should have to prove my baby is okay first.