Updated
Updated · KIRO Seattle · Jun 14
FDA, CDC Recall Nara Infant Formula After 3 Babies Fall Ill in 3 States
Updated
Updated · KIRO Seattle · Jun 14

FDA, CDC Recall Nara Infant Formula After 3 Babies Fall Ill in 3 States

3 articles · Updated · KIRO Seattle · Jun 14

Summary

  • Three infants in California, Pennsylvania and Washington were sickened after consuming Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula, prompting FDA and CDC to warn parents to stop using it immediately.
  • All lots of the powdered formula are affected, including 700g and 400g packages sold mostly at Target; consumers were told to discard the product or return it for a refund.
  • No deaths have been reported, but all three infants were hospitalized, and CDC said botulism symptoms can take weeks to appear after exposure.
  • Infant botulism begins when Clostridium botulinum spores colonize a baby's intestine and can progress to paralysis, breathing trouble and weeks of hospitalization if untreated.

Insights

With botulism spores contaminating even organic formula, can parents ever be certain of what is safe for their infants?
After another crisis, can US regulators effectively police global supply chains to ensure infant formula safety on American shelves?
As science reveals infant gut vulnerabilities, what is the next frontier in creating truly microbiome-safe baby food?