If you have Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula at home, stop using it immediately. The CDC and FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to this recalled powdered formula, with 4 confirmed cases reported across California, Pennsylvania, and Washington as of July 6, 2026. All 4 infants were hospitalized, though no deaths have been reported.

What Happened With This Formula Recall?

Nara Organics recalled all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula on June 13, 2026. The product was sold at Target stores, Target.com, and Nara.com. Federal investigators found that all 4 infants in the outbreak had consumed this formula. Testing of unopened product is still underway, and California public health officials discovered Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism, in an opened can from one sick infant's home. Investigators are still working to determine the root cause and whether any additional products are affected.

The good news: this brand accounts for less than 1% of infant formula sold in the United States, so shortages are not expected from this recall.

What Should Parents Do If They Have This Formula?

• Stop using it immediately: Do not feed any remaining formula from this product to your baby.
• Handle unopened cans: Throw them away or return them following the recall instructions provided by the manufacturer or retailer.
• Preserve opened cans for testing: If you have an opened can, take a photo of the label and record the lot number and use-by date. Consider keeping the can in case public health officials want to test it later. Write "DO NOT USE" on it and store it away from anything else you feed your baby for at least 1 month.
• Clean feeding equipment: Wash bottles, nipples, scoops, and nearby surfaces with hot soapy water or in the dishwasher if they may have touched the formula.
• Document the exposure: Write down when your baby last used the formula. Keeping the date and container details handy can help if your pediatrician or health department asks about exposure.
• Find a replacement: If your baby was born premature, has special feeding needs, or you are unsure what formula to use next, call your child's pediatrician. The American Academy of Pediatrics says many families can switch to a similar formula, and families using WIC should generally be able to get a comparable replacement product through their WIC office.

What Are the Warning Signs of Infant Botulism?

The CDC says symptoms can take several weeks to develop, which is why parents are being told to watch for illness for a month after the last use. Infant botulism is rare, but it is serious because it affects the nerves and can lead to weakness, trouble swallowing, and breathing problems. Early recognition is critical.

Warning signs described by the CDC, MedlinePlus, and the American Academy of Pediatrics include:

• Constipation: Often the first sign of infant botulism.
• Feeding difficulties: Poor feeding or weak sucking, or a weak or different-sounding cry.
• Facial changes: Droopy eyelids, less facial movement, or a flatter facial expression.
• Muscle weakness: Trouble swallowing or less gagging than usual, loss of head control, a floppy body, or limp arms and legs.
• Extreme sleepiness: Unusual tiredness or difficulty staying awake.
• Breathing changes: Breathing that slows, becomes difficult, or stops.

When Should You Seek Emergency Care?

Seek immediate medical care if your baby used the recalled formula and develops poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, decreased facial expression, constipation with unusual weakness, a weak cry, or new floppiness. Do not wait to see if symptoms pass on their own.

Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately if your baby has trouble breathing, breathing that slows or stops, is very hard to wake, or seems to be getting rapidly weaker or floppier. Infant botulism can be life-threatening and may require breathing support.

Key Questions Parents Are Asking

Does this mean all infant formula is dangerous? No. This is a specific recall tied to one product. Most infant formula on the market is not part of this alert.

Will my baby definitely get sick if they used it? No. Not every baby who used the recalled formula has been reported sick. But because infant botulism can become severe, the safest next steps are to stop using the formula, keep the container details, and watch closely for symptoms for 1 month after the last feeding.

If you have this recalled formula, stop using it now, clean any feeding items it may have touched, and keep the package details. Then monitor your baby for a month after the last use. If any symptoms of infant botulism appear, get medical care right away. If breathing is affected or your baby becomes very floppy or hard to wake, call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately.