Parents told to stop using Nara infant formula after botulism outbreak

Federal health officials are telling parents and caregivers not to use Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula while investigators examine a multistate infant botulism outbreak involving three hospitalized babies.

The FDA and CDC posted outbreak and recall guidance on June 13, 2026. The investigation covers three confirmed or suspected infant botulism illnesses in infants from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The federal updates reported three hospitalizations and no deaths.

The recall is narrow, but the instruction for families is broad within that product line: stop using all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula currently in the U.S. market. Officials are not saying all infant formula is affected.

What was recalled and where it was sold

Nara Organics voluntarily recalled all lots of its powdered infant formula currently on the market after the FDA recommended a recall. The recall is not limited to the three lots linked to the reported infant exposures.

The affected product includes Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula in 700-gram and 400-gram cans. FDA records say the formula was distributed nationally through Target retail stores, Target.com and Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026. The FDA said Nara infant formula was not distributed outside the United States.

Testing has not been reported as complete. The FDA said it is in the early stages of the investigation and that further testing by the FDA and state partners is underway. Nara says no Nara formula had tested positive for C. botulinum as of its recall notice.

What families should do now

CDC guidance says families should not feed infants the recalled Nara formula. Unopened cans should be thrown away or returned. For opened cans, CDC advises taking a picture or recording the lot number and use-by date before disposal or storage.

Families may consider keeping an opened can in case a state health department wants to test it later if an infant develops symptoms. If kept, the can should be clearly labeled DO NOT USE and stored safely away from anything used to feed the baby for at least a month. If no symptoms appear after a month, CDC says the leftover formula can be thrown away.

CDC also advises washing items and surfaces that may have touched the formula with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher. Businesses should not sell, donate or use recalled formula.

Symptoms may take weeks to appear

Infant botulism can be severe and can require urgent care. CDC says symptoms can take several weeks to develop, so parents of infants who consumed Nara formula should watch for symptoms for a month after the last feeding.

Symptoms highlighted by federal and company recall guidance include constipation, poor feeding, weak or altered cry, loss of head control or muscle tone, trouble sucking or swallowing, drooping eyelids, decreased facial expression, generalized weakness and breathing difficulty. CDC says families should seek immediate medical care if an infant who consumed the recalled formula shows signs such as poor feeding, loss of head control, trouble swallowing or decreased facial expression.

Refunds and returns

Nara says website orders from May and June 2026 are being automatically refunded, and orders still in process have been canceled and refunded. Nara.com customers whose most recent order was placed in March or April 2026 and who were actively feeding with Nara infant formula may request refunds by sending photos of the bottom of each can.

Target customers who bought 700-gram cans can return them through a Target store or follow Target’s online return instructions, according to Nara’s recall page. Nara says Target did not sell 400-gram cans.

Federal officials say they do not expect the recall to create broader infant formula shortage concerns because Nara Organics formula accounts for less than 1% of infant formula sold in the United States. The main items to watch next are FDA and CDC updates on testing results, any change in the case count and any revised return or safety guidance from the company or retailers.

Sources

• FDA outbreak investigation: Infant botulism and powdered infant formula, June 2026
• CDC food safety alert: Infant botulism outbreak linked to powdered infant formula
• Nara Organics recall information page