The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an update on Saturday, June 13, 2026, regarding an outbreak of infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. As of June 13, a total of three infants from three states—California, Pennsylvania, and Washington—have been confirmed with the illness.
The infants, aged 2 to 5 months at the onset of symptoms, all consumed the recalled formula. All three were hospitalized and treated with BabyBIG®, the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism.
No deaths have been reported.
On June 13, Nara Organics initiated a recall of all Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula products, including all lot numbers and both can sizes. The products were available online and at major retailers nationwide.
Testing of opened and unopened cans is underway, with results expected in the coming weeks.
Parents and caregivers are urged to immediately stop using any Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. Unopened cans should be thrown away or returned.
For opened cans, parents should take a picture, record the lot number and use-by date, and consider retaining the formula for potential testing by state health departments. The formula should be labeled "DO NOT USE" and stored safely away from other baby items for at least one month.
If no symptoms appear after a month, the leftover formula can be discarded. Items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled formula should be washed with hot soapy water or in a dishwasher.
Infant botulism occurs when Clostridium botulinum spores infect a baby's large intestine and produce toxins. Symptoms often begin with constipation, followed by difficulty feeding, a weak cry, and loss of head control.
If untreated, it can lead to progressive paralysis and breathing difficulties requiring weeks of hospitalization. Treatment with BabyBIG® is recommended for all suspected cases.
Parents should seek immediate medical care if their infant shows symptoms such as poor feeding, loss of head control, or decreased facial expression. Symptoms can take several weeks to appear, so monitoring should continue for a month after the last consumption of the product.
Clinicians are advised to diagnose based on clinical symptoms and begin treatment promptly without waiting for laboratory confirmation. For media inquiries, the CDC has provided a Request for Comment form.