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Thursday, June 18, 2026
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German company made the infant formula linked to botulism outbreak

Officials with Nara Organics continue to refuse to report the manufacturer of their infant formula, which has been linked to an outbreak of infant botulism.

However, a German company’s website reveals that Milchwerke Mittelelbe GmbH  — also known by its brand name Elb-Milch, a subsidiary of the Krüger Group — is the manufacturer of Nara Organics infant formula. 

The German Milchwerke Mittelelbe GmbH has been part of the Krüger Group since 1991, according to the Krüger website. Krüger specializes in the production of infant nutrition, coffee whitener, basic cocoa and cappuccino products, sweeteners, milk powder and special products for the food industry.

The manufacturer uses milk from 100 contract farmers who supply Milchwerke Mittelelbe with more than a million liters of milk every day.

The outbreak of infant botulism has sickened three babies from California, Pennsylvania and Washington, according to the Food and Drug Administration. They ranged in age from 2 to 5 months old when their illness began. All three consumed Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. 

All three infants have been hospitalized and treated with BabyBIG®, the FDA-approved treatment for infant botulism. No deaths have been reported.

The California Department of Public Health reported that the infections are among infants who were fed Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. The babies became sick in April and May.

The implicated organic formula was distributed nationally across Target retail stores, Target.com, and Nara.com between July 2025 and June 2026.

Officials in two states have collected leftover infant formula for testing. This testing is underway, and results are expected in the coming weeks. 

The FDA contacted the firm and recommended that it conduct a recall due to the severity of illnesses and the epidemiological signal. On June 13, 2026, Nara Organics agreed to recall all of their Nara Organics brand Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. The FDA warns that consumers should not use the recalled infant formula.

Affected product details:

Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 700g, with UPC 860013251901Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula, 400g, with UPC: 860013251918

All lots currently on the market are included in this recall, and the specific codes are as follows. The lot code can be found on the bottom of each can.

408125075E14F2708125076E14F2708125083E14F2408125139E14F2708125141E14F2708125145E14F2708125174E14F2709125273E14F2709125280E14F2709125288E14F2409125307E14F270926019ENNB70926029ENNB70926035ENNB70926039ENNB70926042ENNB

 

Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula makes up less than 1 percent of all infant formula sold in the United States and this outbreak does not create shortage concerns of infant formula for parents and caregivers, according to the FDA.

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