Federal health officials announced Saturday that Nara Organics has pulled its organic baby formula from shelves after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism was linked to the product.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, three infants between 2 and 5 months old fell ill in April and May after drinking Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered infant formula. The babies were from California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. All three were hospitalized and received the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism.
The formula is sold at Target stores across the country and on Nara.com. It is manufactured in Europe but distributed exclusively in the United States.
Infant botulism is a rare but potentially dangerous condition that affects babies under one year of age. Because infants have underdeveloped gut microbiomes, they are vulnerable to bacteria with spores that release a toxin inside the digestive system.
Parents and caregivers should watch for warning signs that include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, trouble swallowing, and breathing difficulties. Any baby showing these symptoms requires immediate medical care.
The only available treatment is BabyBIG, an intravenous medication derived from the blood plasma of individuals who have been immunized against botulism.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a statement urging anyone who has the formula to stop using it right away. The CDC also recommended that those with an opened can take a photo of the label, write down the lot number and use-by date, and monitor their infant closely.
“Label it ‘DO NOT USE’ and keep it stored in a safe place away from other items you feed your baby for at least a month,” the CDC advised. “If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away.”
The FDA noted that Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula accounts for less than one percent of all baby formula sold in the U.S., and the recall is not expected to cause any shortage concerns for families.
