The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a fourth case of an infant hospitalized with botulism after consuming Nara Organics powdered infant formula.

On Monday the 6th, the FDA stated, "Parents and caregivers should immediately stop using 'Nara Organics' organic whole milk infant formula," adding that it is currently actively investigating a cluster of cases involving infants in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington state. 

Furthermore, the FDA advises parents to retain any opened cans if their child exhibits symptoms of botulism, as the agency may need them for testing.

Botulism is caused by ingesting Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that produces a neurotoxin commonly found in improperly stored or preserved foods, honey, and the environment. 

Symptoms in infants include muscle weakness, drooping eyelids, and difficulty swallowing or breathing. If left untreated, ingestion of this bacterium can lead to paralysis and/or death. 

The FDA is working in coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP) to collect and test unopened samples of the affected formula lots, with results expected in the coming weeks. 

Separately, state authorities have collected opened formula cans from the homes of the affected infants, and testing by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has detected Clostridium botulinum in a can of 'Nara Organics' formula retrieved from one patient's home.

The 'Nara Organics' formula cases follow the recall of 'ByHeart Whole Nutrition' formula in late 2025, which was linked to 28 confirmed and 20 suspected cases of infant botulism in children under one year of age.

Critics point to the FDA's failure to recall the formula sooner, citing a lack of oversight resulting from recent staffing cuts under President Trump. 

However, the Trump administration, which has advocated for personnel reductions across federal agencies to curb waste and bureaucratic bloat, reported an increase in the number of recalls in 2025 compared to 2024 under the Biden administration.

U.S. NNP = Representative Reporter Sung Ku Hong / NNP Special Correspondent info@newsandpost.com