Infant Botulism Outbreak Linked to Powdered Infant Formula, June 2026

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Key points

Investigation status: Closed
Recall issued: Yes
  • This outbreak is over.
  • CDC, FDA, the California Department of Public Health Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, and public health officials in several states investigated a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to powdered infant formula.
  • Epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory data showed that Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula was contaminated and made infants sick.
  • Data indicate a common source of contamination for this outbreak and a 2025 outbreak linked to ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula.
  • Although this outbreak is over, powdered infant formula has a long shelf-life. If you still have any of the recalled infant formula from Nara Organics in your home, do not feed it to your infant. Throw it away.
Updates Locations Timeline

Fast Facts

  • Cases: 4
  • Hospitalizations: 4
  • Deaths: 0
  • States: 3
Updates Locations Timeline

Recalled infant formula

On June 13, 2026, Nara Organics recalled all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula.

Nara Infant Formula
Nara Organics Infant Formula Recall
Nara Organics infant formula is a powdered infant formula that was sold at Target retail stores, Target.com, and Nara.com.

What you should do

Actions to take

  • Do not use recalled infant formula
    Throw away any unopened cans or leftover recalled formula.
  • Wash items and surfaces
    Wash items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled formula using hot soapy water or a dishwasher.
  • Seek care if your infant becomes ill
    Seek immediate medical care if your infant consumed recalled Nara Organics infant formula and has any of these signs or symptoms of infant botulism: poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression.
  • Report information to FDA
    To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction), visit FDA's Safety Reporting Portal. If your child has signs or symptoms of infant botulism, seek medical attention before using the portal.

Tip

Symptoms of infant botulism can take as long as several weeks to develop. Parents of children who consumed recalled Nara Organics infant formula should watch their infant for symptoms for a month after the infant last consumed the product.

What businesses should do

  • Do not sell, donate, or use recalled infant formula.
  • Wash and sanitize items and surfaces that may have touched recalled formula.

What clinicians should do

Initial diagnosis of infant botulism is based on clinical signs. If untreated, infants with infant botulism experience a progressive, flaccid paralysis that can lead to breathing difficulties, including respiratory failure, and require weeks of hospitalization. Consultation with the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP) at the California Department of Public Health is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Actions to take

  • Call
    If you suspect your infant patient has botulism, immediately call 510-231-7600 for IBTPP case consultation.
  • Treat
    Treatment with BabyBIG® is recommended for all suspected cases of infant botulism. If clinical consultation supports infant botulism, begin treatment as soon as possible. Do not wait for laboratory confirmation.
  • Notify
    Infant botulism is a notifiable disease. Report all suspected cases to your state public health department.
For Health Care Providers Clinical Overview of Infant Botulism

Resources

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Content Source
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
About This Page
Published: June 13, 2026
Updated: August 27, 2026

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

Reviewed: August 27, 2026

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.