Infant botulism outbreak: Baby formula sold at Target recalled as potentially deadly infection spreads to 3 states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert this week regarding a multistate outbreak of infant botulism that has sickened three infants across California, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The affected infants, aged between 2 and 5 months, required hospitalization due to the illness, though no deaths have been reported. The outbreak has been linked to Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula, specifically the Whole Milk Infant Formula product, which was sold at Target and other online retailers. Nara Organics, based in New York, NY, has initiated a voluntary recall of the implicated formula. Infant botulism is a serious condition caused by the ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores, which colonize the infant's intestine and produce a paralyzing neurotoxin. Symptoms can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, sluggish pupils, and diminished suck.