Nara Organics Recall: Formula Linked to Infant Botulism in 3 States

On June 13, Nara Organics recalled all lots of its powdered infant formula after 3 babies in 3 states were hospitalized with botulism infections linked to the product.

The recall covers formula sold at Target stores, on Target.com, and on Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026. If you have this formula in your home right now, stop using it.

Three infants were hospitalized in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The children ranged in age from 86 to 153 days old when they got sick. Illness onset dates ran from April through May 2026.

All 3 were treated with BabyBIG®, the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism developed by the California Department of Health.

Infant botulism is not a stomach bug. It is a serious neurological illness that can cause muscle paralysis and, without treatment, can be fatal.

What’s in Your Pantry Right Now

The recalled product is Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, sold in two can sizes:

• 700-gram can — light blue with a dark blue lid, cows on the front, UPC 860013251901
• 400-gram can — same design, UPC 860013251918

Nara has recalled all lots currently on the market. If you have either size, it is recalled — full stop. But if you want to check your specific can against the lot codes tied to the 3 confirmed illness cases, those are:

• 709125280E14F2
• 709125288E14F2
• 708125174E14F2

The lot code is printed on the bottom of the can.

The full list of recalled lot codes includes 16 codes total:

408125075E14F2, 708125076E14F2, 708125083E14F2, 408125139E14F2, 708125141E14F2, 708125145E14F2, 708125174E14F2, 709125273E14F2, 709125280E14F2, 709125288E14F2, 409125307E14F2, 70926019ENNB, 70926029ENNB, 70926035ENNB, 70926039ENNB, and 70926042ENNB.

The Formula Hasn’t Tested Positive — But That’s Not a Comfort

Here is the part that will frustrate you: As of the recall announcement, Nara Organics infant formula has not tested positive for Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium whose spores cause infant botulism. The FDA is still running tests, and results are expected to take a couple of weeks.

Nara is proceeding with a voluntary recall of everything on the market anyway — which is the right call, but it also means the investigation is still open. Three babies got sick. The epidemiological link to this formula is strong enough that federal regulators and the company both moved.

The absence of a confirmed positive test result does not mean the formula is safe. It means the testing isn’t done yet.

This is how contamination investigations work in practice: The product gets pulled before the lab confirms the source, because waiting for confirmation means more babies get fed the suspect formula in the meantime.

The precautionary logic is sound. But it leaves parents in an uncomfortable position — you may have fed your baby a product that is under active investigation for a serious illness, and the full picture won’t be clear for weeks.

What Infant Botulism Actually Looks Like

Infant botulism is different from the foodborne botulism adults can get. In infants, C. botulinum spores are ingested and then germinate in the intestines, producing toxin inside the baby’s body.

The symptoms can be subtle at first and easy to miss or attribute to something else.

Watch for all of these signs:

• Constipation — often the first symptom, appearing before anything else
• Poor feeding — weak or slow sucking, difficulty swallowing
• Weak crying — noticeably less forceful than usual
• Drooping eyelids — a classic early neurological sign
• Generalized weakness — the baby seems “floppy,” with reduced muscle tone
• Vomiting or diarrhea — less common but possible

Any infant showing these symptoms needs immediate medical attention. Do not wait to see if it resolves on its own. Infant botulism progresses, and early treatment is significantly more effective than treatment after the illness has advanced.

What to Do With the Formula You Have

The FDA recall notice is specific about disposal. Do not simply throw the can in your recycling bin or leave it on a shelf.

1. Stop using it immediately. Do not finish an open can.
2. Return it to the store where you purchased it for a refund or replacement — Target is the primary retail outlet.
3. If you’re throwing it away: double-bag the formula in sealed plastic bags before placing it in a secure trash receptacle. The double-bagging guidance is about preventing other people — including children who might dig through trash — from accessing the product.
4. Contact Nara Organics directly for a refund or replacement if you cannot return it to a store.

If you have already fed this formula to your baby, call your pediatrician today — even if your child seems fine. Document when you used the formula, which lot code you had, and how much your infant consumed. That documentation matters both for your child’s medical care and for any legal action you may need to pursue later.

If Your Baby Was Harmed, Document Everything Now

Infant botulism from contaminated formula is a serious personal injury matter. If your child was hospitalized, experienced symptoms consistent with botulism, or was fed formula from one of the recalled lot codes — particularly the three lots linked to confirmed cases — you have potential legal recourse.

The window for preserving that recourse starts now, not after you see how things develop.

• Save the formula can. Do not throw it away if your child became ill. The lot code and the physical product are evidence.
• Request all medical records from any hospitalization or pediatric visit where botulism symptoms were evaluated.
• Document the timeline in writing: when you bought the formula, which lot code, when your baby started showing symptoms, what treatment was given.
• Consult a personal injury attorney who handles product liability cases involving infant harm. Many work on contingency, meaning no upfront cost.

The three confirmed cases are in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington — but the formula was sold nationally through Target and online, and the investigation is ongoing. If you are in any other state and your infant showed symptoms after consuming this product, that is worth documenting and discussing with a physician and an attorney.

What to Do About the Nara Organics Recall

1. Check your formula immediately. Look for Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula in 700g or 400g cans. If you have it, it’s recalled.
2. Verify your lot code against the 16 recalled codes listed above — the code is on the bottom of the can.
3. Return the product to Target for a refund, or contact Nara Organics directly for a replacement.
4. Call your pediatrician if your infant has consumed this formula, even if they appear healthy. Describe the lot code and dates of use.
5. Go to an emergency room immediately if your infant shows any signs of weakness, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, or unusual constipation.
6. Report your experience to the FDA’s MedWatch program at fda.gov/safety/medwatch if your child was harmed. This reporting directly feeds the FDA’s ongoing investigation.
7. Let us know what’s going on. We can let you know if you may be able to take legal action if your child is injured.

Written by: Companies Behaving Badly

The team behind it all.