Vietnam orders urgent review and recall of U.S.-made infant formula due to botulism risk

Vietnam's Food Safety Authority has issued an urgent alert for a review and recall of Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. This action follows the detection of infant botulism cases in the United States, which are suspected to be linked to the product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously announced a voluntary recall of the product manufactured by Nara Organics.

The affected infant formula was distributed in the U.S. through Target retail stores, the e-commerce platform Target.com, and Nara.com from July 2025 to June 2026. The FDA reported that the product is not officially distributed outside the U.S. The alert came after three infants in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington developed botulism after consuming the formula.

Given the potential health risks, Vietnam's Food Safety Authority has requested provincial health departments and food safety agencies to urgently review product registrations and self-declarations for Nara Organics formula in Vietnam. They have also instructed relevant units to work with the product's declaring company, if any, to inform distributors and consumers to cease using the product and initiate a recall as recommended by the manufacturer.

Businesses are required to report the quantities of the product imported, consumed, and currently in stock to facilitate appropriate handling. The authority also urged enhanced public communication to prevent further use of the recalled Nara Organics formula. E-commerce regulatory bodies have been asked to notify online marketplaces and sellers to stop listing the product if it appears in Vietnam and to remove advertisements, while also addressing any violations of quality regulations.