Nara Organics is voluntarily recalling all cans of its infant formula sold online and at Target stores across the United States due to botulism concerns.
On June 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration shared three infants ages two to five months were hospitalized and treated for infant botulism after drinking Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. The CDC added that the incidents occurred across three states: California, Pennsylvania and Washington.
Symptoms of infant botulism can take several weeks to start, according to the CDC, but may include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing and decreased facial expression. The FDA adds the illness is “rare but potentially fatal.”
“Seek immediate health care if your infant consumed Nara Organics brand infant formula and has any of these symptoms,” the CDC advises, adding to monitor children for a month after they last consumed the product.
The CDC also advises washing any items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled formula.
According to the FDA and Nara Organics website, the specific product lots these infants were exposed to included: 709125280E14F2, 709125288E14F2 and 708125174E14F2. But the company is voluntarily recalling all its cans − the full list of lot codes can be found here.
The company adds customers who purchased formula from its website in May or June will receive an automatic refund while others may request a refund. For those who purchased formula at Target, the company suggests following the store’s return policies.
Formula shortages from this recall are not expected, the CDC added, as this brand “makes up less than 1% of all infant formula available in the United States.”
