Nara Organics recalls baby formula after multistate infant botulism outbreak

Nara Organics has initiated a nationwide recall of its organic baby formula, sold through Target and online, following a serious outbreak of infant botulism across multiple states. Federal authorities confirmed the recall on Saturday.

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. They were hospitalized and treated with the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism, the agency said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that three infants, aged between 2 and 5 months, fell ill in April and May in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. These infants had consumed Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula. The product is also available for purchase directly from Nara.com.

All three affected infants were hospitalized and received the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism. This illness is a rare but severe condition that affects babies under one year old, whose digestive systems are not yet fully developed. It occurs when infants ingest bacteria spores that then produce a toxin within their gut.

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

Symptoms of infant botulism can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems, requiring immediate medical attention. The sole treatment available is BabyBIG, an intravenous medication derived from the blood plasma of individuals immunized against botulism.

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Symptoms include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, difficulty swallowing and breathing problems, among others. Babies who develop those symptoms need immediate medical attention.

The FDA assured the public that this recall would not lead to a shortage of infant formula, as Nara Organics products constitute less than 1% of the total infant formula market in the United States. The formula is manufactured in Europe but exclusively distributed within the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advised consumers with the recalled formula to stop using it immediately, document lot numbers and expiration dates, and store it safely away from infants for at least a month before disposal, provided no symptoms develop.

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The sole treatment is BabyBIG, an IV medication made from blood plasma of people immunized against botulism.