CDC Links Infant Botulism Cases to Nara Organics Formula

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked cases of infant botulism to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula, prompting federal health officials to advise parents to stop using the powdered product immediately.

Infant botulism develops when bacteria called Clostridium botulinum colonize an infant's intestines and produce toxins. The condition can cause muscle weakness, difficulty feeding, constipation, and in severe cases, paralysis requiring hospitalization.

The CDC's outbreak update did not specify the number of confirmed cases, the geographic regions affected, or the ages of affected infants. The agency also did not provide information about whether it had identified the specific contamination source within the manufacturing or distribution process.

Parents using Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula should contact their healthcare provider if their infant shows symptoms of botulism, including constipation, weakness, poor feeding, a weak cry, or decreased muscle tone.

The CDC statement urges parents to switch to alternative infant formulas. Consumers who have purchased the product can contact the manufacturer or retailer for information about product returns or refunds.

Infant botulism remains rare in the United States. The CDC typically receives fewer than 100 reports annually. Most cases develop in infants under six months of age, though cases have occurred in children up to one year old.

Powdered infant formulas have been the subject of heightened regulatory scrutiny since 2022, when federal investigators linked contaminated formula to multiple infant deaths and hospitalizations. The FDA subsequently increased inspection frequency and testing requirements at manufacturing facilities.

Nara Organics did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the outbreak or the scope of product recalls.