Infant Formula Recall
Multistate infant botulism outbreak prompts Nara Organics powdered formula recall
Key Points
California’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP) reported the illnesses as “three toxin type A infections” among infants who consumed the Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula, with illness onset in April and May 2026.
The FDA/alert materials listed specific recalled lot codes, including (as examples) 408125075E14F2, 708125076E14F2, 709125273E14F2, and 70926042ENNB (with additional lot codes also identified).
The recall was not spontaneous: FDA contacted Nara Organics and recommended a recall “due to the severity of illnesses and the epidemiological signal,” and Nara agreed to recall all lots on June 13, 2026.
FDA guidance referenced common initial infant botulism symptoms—“constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing,” which can progress to “difficulty breathing and respiratory arrest,” and symptoms can take “as long as several weeks to develop” after formula ingestion.
Officials said the recalled formula is a very small share of the market—Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up “less than 1 percent of all infant formula sold in the United States,” so the outbreak “does not create shortage concerns.”
Federal health officials are investigating a multistate infant botulism outbreak tied to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula, with three infants hospitalized in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The babies were between 2 and 5 months old when symptoms began in April and May 2026. No deaths have been reported. CDC confirmed all three were treated with BabyBIG, the only FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism.
On June 13, 2026, Nara Organics recalled all lots and both can sizes of the formula after the FDA recommended the action, citing "the severity of these illnesses and the strength of the epidemiological signal." The recalled product was sold nationwide at Target stores, Target.com, and Nara.com over the past year. It was manufactured in Europe.
How Three Sick Infants Triggered a Nationwide Recall
Illness onset dates spanned April through late May 2026. Local health departments flagged the cases to the CDC and California's Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP). Investigators found a common thread: all three infants had consumed Nara Organics formula. CDC said the IBTPP identified the infections as "three toxin type A" cases — one of the most potent forms of botulinum toxin.
By June 11, federal officials had contacted Nara Organics with their findings. The FDA pressed the company to act. Two days later, Nara Organics agreed to pull every lot from the market. The recall covered formula sold over the prior year. Food Poison Journal reported the recall spanned all lots and both available can sizes.
Symptoms Can Take Weeks to Appear — What Parents Should Watch For
Infant botulism attacks the nervous system. The CDC lists early warning signs as constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing. These can progress to trouble breathing and respiratory arrest. Critically, symptoms can take "as long as several weeks to develop" after a baby eats contaminated formula. An infant who consumed the product in May could still be showing first signs now.
Health officials are urging parents to act immediately. Stop using any Nara Organics formula right away. If your baby has consumed it, call a doctor even if the child seems fine. Do not throw away leftover formula. State health departments may need opened canisters for testing. Write down the lot code and use-by date from the can. Fox 10 Phoenix reported that results from testing opened and unopened samples are expected in the coming weeks.
Recalled Lot Codes and Where the Formula Was Sold
The FDA identified multiple specific lot codes in the recall. Examples include 408125075E14F2, 708125076E14F2, 709125273E14F2, and 70926042ENNB, with additional codes also flagged. The formula was sold at Target stores across the country, on Target.com, and directly through Nara.com. According to CDC, the product was manufactured in Europe, which means the FDA must now coordinate with European food safety regulators to inspect the overseas facility.
Parents who bought the formula online or in-store over the past year should check their canisters against the full lot code list published in the FDA safety alert. WAVY News noted that the FDA issued its formal safety alert on June 13, the same day Nara Organics agreed to the recall.
No Formula Shortage Expected as Testing Continues
Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, according to CDC. Because of that small market share, officials say the recall "does not create shortage concerns." This stands in sharp contrast to the 2022 Abbott Nutrition crisis, which triggered a nationwide formula shortage and forced emergency imports.
Health agencies are now testing both unopened product samples and leftover opened formula collected in some states. Results are expected within weeks. The investigation remains active. Food Poison Journal noted that while no deaths have been reported, botulism can require weeks of intensive care and, in severe cases, mechanical ventilation to keep a patient breathing.
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