FDA, CDC, and public health officials in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington are investigating; food safety attorney Bill Marler calls it the second formula-linked infant botulism outbreak in seven months and renews his demand that the FDA and the infant formula industry do more.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash., June 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. Three infants in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington have been sickened with type A botulinum toxin, with illness onset between April and May 2026. All three were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Inside the rollout
Why it matters
For industry operators, this is another data point in the structural change reshaping the cooking-equipment sector. Watch for follow-on moves from competitors and reactions from key channel partners in the coming quarters.
FDA, CDC, and public health officials in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington are investigating; food safety attorney Bill Marler calls it the second formula-linked infant botulism outbreak in seven months and renews his demand that the FDA and the infant formula industry do more.
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND, Wash., June 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program (IBTPP), and state and local partners, are investigating a multistate outbreak of infant botulism linked to Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Powdered Infant Formula. Three infants in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington have been sickened with type A botulinum toxin, with illness onset between April and May 2026. All three were hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
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Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.