Nara Organics Recalls All Its Infant Formula After 3 Babies Get Botulism — What Parents Should Know
Nara Organics has voluntarily recalled all of its powdered infant formula after three babies were hospitalized with botulism — the second US formula-linked botulism outbreak in seven months. Here are the facts and what parents should do.
TL;DR — On June 13, 2026, Nara Organics recalled all lots of its Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula after three babies in three states were hospitalized with infant botulism. No deaths. It's the second US formula-linked botulism outbreak in seven months — and the link to Nara is still suspected, not confirmed.
This is a food-safety story, so the most useful thing first: if you have Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula, the CDC and FDA say stop using it regardless of lot number. Here's what happened and why it matters.
What happened
On June 12, 2026, the FDA notified Nara Organics that three infants who had consumed its formula were diagnosed with infant botulism; the next day the company issued a voluntary recall of all lot numbers and both can sizes, per the CDC. The babies — in California, Pennsylvania and Washington, aged 2 to 5 months — were all hospitalized and treated; there were no deaths. The formula was sold at Target, Target.com and Nara.com and was manufactured in Europe.
Importantly, as of the recall no Nara product had tested positive for C. botulinum — the link is epidemiological and under investigation, so it's "linked to," not "confirmed contaminated."
Why it's a bigger deal: the second outbreak in seven months
| ByHeart (Nov 2025) | Nara Organics (Jun 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recall announced | Nov 11, 2025 | June 13, 2026 |
| Infants sickened | 48 | 3 |
| States | 17 | 3 (CA, PA, WA) |
| Hospitalized / deaths | 48 / 0 | 3 / 0 |
| C. botulinum in product | Confirmed | Suspected — not yet confirmed |
| Where sold | Nationwide | Target, Target.com, Nara.com |
This follows the much larger ByHeart outbreak recalled on November 11, 2025, which the CDC tallied at 48 infants across 17 states (also with no deaths). Two formula-linked botulism outbreaks in seven months has reignited a policy fight. On June 18, 2026, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) renewed her push for the Infant Formula Safety Modernization Act:
"In just seven months, we have experienced two outbreaks of infant botulism tied to powdered infant formula. This is not an isolated incident — it is a concerning pattern that begs the question; are we doing enough to ensure the safety of infant formula in this country?"
Nara, which the CDC notes makes up less than 1% of US infant formula, said in a statement: "The health of all babies is our first priority, and for that reason, we're issuing a voluntary recall."
What parents should do
Per CDC/FDA guidance: stop using the recalled formula, and watch for infant-botulism symptoms — constipation, a weak cry, poor feeding, drooping eyelids or weak muscle tone — and seek medical care promptly if they appear. Infant botulism is treatable, and early care matters.
FAQ
Which product is recalled?
All lot numbers and both can sizes of Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula, sold at Target, Target.com and Nara.com. The voluntary recall was announced June 13, 2026.
Has the formula been confirmed contaminated?
Not as of the recall. The link between Nara formula and the three cases is epidemiological and still under investigation; no Nara product had tested positive for C. botulinum.
How many babies were affected?
Three infants in California, Pennsylvania and Washington, aged 2–5 months. All were hospitalized; there were no deaths.
How is this connected to the ByHeart recall?
It's the second US formula-linked infant-botulism outbreak in seven months. The earlier ByHeart outbreak (recalled Nov 11, 2025) involved 48 infants across 17 states, per the CDC.
What are the symptoms of infant botulism?
The CDC lists constipation, weak cry, poor feeding, drooping eyelids and weak muscle tone. Seek medical care promptly; the condition is treatable, especially when caught early.
Sources: CDC outbreak page (updated Jun 13 2026), FDA recall notice, CBS News, Consumer Reports.
Image: Fgnievinski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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