Organic formula sold at Target recalled after 3 babies hospitalized with botulism poisoning

An organic baby formula sold at Target has been voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer after three infants who consumed the product were infected with a deadly bacterium.According to the FDA, the makers of Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula are recalling all lots of the product out of an “abundance of caution” after three infants were hospitalized in California, Washington and Pennsylvania with infant botulism.The formula is distributed nationally through Target stores and the Nara.com website.

Per the FDA, all three infants were given BabyBIG, an antitoxin used to treat infant botulism, and have survived the infection.A rare but potentially grave illness, infant botulism occurs when clostridium botulinum spores are ingested and germinate in infants’ immature guts, producing botulinum neurotoxins.Parents of children less than a year old should be mindful of infant botulism symptoms, such as constipation, poor feeding habits, weakness (particularly in the infant’s facial area), weak crying, lack of head control and difficulty breathing.The symptoms may appear up to a month after exposure, and early treatment is critical.

If infants begin to exhibit these symptoms, immediate medical care is called for.Botulism can be fatal — causing death in 5% to 10% of cases — and presents “a serious threat to the health of infants,” according to the FDA.In these most recent cases, the infants, who were between 2 and 5 months old when they became ill, were given the formula between April and May of this year.The three product lots consumed by the hospitalized infants are 709125280E14F2, 709125288E14F2, and 708125174E14F2.

Lot numbers can be found on the bottom of the formula containers. Thus far, zero lots of Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula have tested positive for Clostridium botulinum, but the company is voluntarily recalling all whole-milk infant powdered products.Nara Organics is working closely with the FDA, CDC, and state partners to find the ro...