The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a food safety alert following a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. As of Saturday (June 13), three infants from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington have been hospitalized with the illness. The infants, aged between two and five months, consumed the formula, which Nara Organics voluntarily recalled on Saturday (June 13).
The infants were treated with BabyBIG, an FDA-approved antitoxin for infant botulism, and no deaths have been reported. Testing of the formula is ongoing, with results expected in the coming weeks. Nara Organics, a Europe-based manufacturer, has recalled all its formula products sold in the U.S., including those available at Target stores and online. The company accounts for less than 1% of the U.S. infant formula market, and the recall is not expected to impact the nation's supply.
Infant botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by Clostridium botulinum spores growing in a baby's large intestine. Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, and difficulty breathing. The CDC advises parents and caregivers to stop using the recalled formula immediately and to store it safely away from other food. If symptoms appear, seek immediate medical attention.
For more information, visit the CDC's official page on infant botulism or contact your healthcare provider. The FDA continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as they become available.