Nara Organics recalls baby formula sold at Target after botulism outbreak in infants in multiple states

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nara Organics recalled its organic baby formula sold nationwide at Target stores and online Saturday after a multi-state outbreak of infant botulism, federal authorities said.

Three infants between the ages of 2 and 5 months became ill in April and May in California, Pennsylvania and Washington after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, which is also sold on Nara.com, the US Food and Drug Administration said.

They were hospitalized and treated with FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism, the agency said.

Infant botulism is a rare but serious disease that occurs in infants under 1 year of age whose gut microbiomes are immature. It is caused when babies ingest bacteria with spores that produce a toxin in the gut.

Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, poor muscle tone, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems, among others.

Babies who show these symptoms need immediate medical attention. The only treatment is BabyBIG, an IV drug made from the blood plasma of people immunized against botulism.

Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1% of all infant formula sold in the United States, and the outbreak does not raise concerns about a shortage for parents and caregivers, the FDA said.

People who have the formula are asked to stop using it immediately, the US Centers for Disease Control said in a statement. The formula is manufactured in Europe but sold only in the US, he added.

The CDC recommended that anyone with an open can take a picture, record the lot number and date of use, and watch their babies for symptoms.

“Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from other things you feed your baby for at least one month,” the CDC said. “If no symptoms appear after one month, discard remaining formula.”