If you’re a parent with an infant, you should be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an alert about an ongoing outbreak of infant botulism that has been linked to a now-recalled powdered infant formula sold at Target stores and other online locations. Here’s what you need to know about the outbreak and the recalled products.
What’s happened?
On Saturday, the CDC posted an alert on its website notifying the public about an ongoing multistate outbreak of infant botulism that has so far sickened three individuals across three states.
The individuals are all infants between 2 months and 5 months old when their botulism illness began. All three infants have required hospitalization to treat the disease, but thankfully, no deaths linked to the outbreak have been reported at this time.
The hospitalizations have occurred in three states: California, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
At the heart of the outbreak is Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula, which is manufactured by Nara Organics of New York City. All three of the infants linked to the outbreak consumed the Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula before becoming ill.
As a result of being notified about this link to the outbreak, Nara Organics issued a voluntary recall of its Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula products.
What is infant botulism?
According to the CDC, infant botulism is a rare but serious illness that can occur when a baby swallows spores of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium.
These spores then colonize the infant’s large intestine, where they produce a botulinum neurotoxin. This neurotoxin can cause damage to various motor neurons in the body, which can lead to paralysis and, in some cases, death.
What are the symptoms of infant botulism?
According to the CDC, symptoms of infant botulism include:
- Constipation
- Poor feeding
- Ptosis (drooping eyelid)
- Sluggish pupils
- Flattened facial expression
- Diminished suck and gag reflexes
- Weak and altered cry
- Respiratory difficulty and possibly respiratory arrest
What products are being recalled?
According to the recall notice posted on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website, two specific products linked to the outbreak are being recalled. Those products are:
- Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 700g, with UPC 860013251901
- Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 400g, with UPC 860013251918
The lot codes of the recalled products include:
- 408125075E14F2
- 708125076E14F2
- 708125083E14F2
- 408125139E14F2
- 708125141E14F2
- 708125145E14F2
- 708125174E14F2
- 709125273E14F2
- 709125280E14F2
- 709125288E14F2
- 409125307E14F2
- 70926019ENNB
- 70926029ENNB
- 70926035ENNB
- 70926039ENNB
- 70926042ENNB
Where were the recalled products sold?
The products in the recall were reportedly distributed nationally via multiple outlets between July 2025 and June 2026. Those outlets include:
- Target retail stores
- Target.com
- Nara.com
What should I do if I have the recalled powdered infant formula?
If you have the recalled products in your possession, you should stop using them immediately.
If you have unopened cans of the recalled products, you should throw them away or return them to their place of purchase, according to the CDC.
For those with opened cans of the recalled products, the CDC says you should take a photo of the cans and record their use-by dates and lot numbers. The agency says you may also want to consider retaining the cans in case your infant comes down with symptoms of infant botulism, as state health agencies will likely want to then test the cans.
But if you do retain the cans, the CDC says to label them with the phrase “DO NOT USE” and to keep the cans in a safe place away from babies and other items used to feed your baby for at least a month. If your baby shows no symptoms after a month, you can throw the cans away.
The CDC provides additional information on what to do if you have the recalled products. Those who have the recalled products are advised to read all of the CDC’s and FDA’s full advisories closely.
