Essential products that many families rely on to keep their babies clean and comfortable have been pulled from store shelves after testing found potential bacterial contamination in some store-brand baby wipes.
Sold at Targets nationwide, the store has recalled several Up & Up baby wipes products after testing detected bacteria that could potentially cause health risks to infants and young children. These recalls include both fragrance-free and cucumber-scented wipes.
Federal health officials and Target are advising parents to immediately stop using the affected wipes and check product packaging against the recall notice.
If you have any of the recalled wipes at home:
Parents can also contact Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680 for more information.
The products were sold in Target stores across the United States and through Target’s website.
The recall includes multiple package sizes of Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes, including 20-count, 72-count, 216-count, 800-count and 1,200-count packages. Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes sold in 72-count, 216-count and 800-count packages are also included in the recall.
Parents should monitor children for:
According to Nemours KidsHealth, diaper rash is a common condition in babies that can cause sore, red, scaly and tender skin in the area covered by a diaper, and most cases improve with simple changes in diapering habits.
Nemours KidsHealth mentioned that diaper rash is often caused by irritation from prolonged contact with urine, stool or sweat, but sensitive babies can also develop rashes from products such as soaps, diapers or baby wipes.
While serious infections appear to be rare, health experts recommend seeking medical advice if symptoms develop, particularly in newborns or children with underlying health conditions.
Target said in the press release that it is coordinating with the manufacturer as the investigation continues.
According to a recall announcement shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, some tested samples contained Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, bacteria that can cause illness in humans.
These bacteria are commonly found in the environment and generally pose little risk to healthy people. However, health experts say they can cause infections in people with weakened immune systems and may be more concerning for newborns and young children.
In the announcement, Target said it and the manufacturer, Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, received “a number of consumer complaints and adverse event reports alleging product discoloration and symptoms such as skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections potentially associated with the use of the product.”
In the recall notice, Target noted that the wipes are primarily used on newborns, infants and young children.
“The products are predominantly used on newborns, infants, and young children, who are particularly vulnerable to opportunistic infection due to their immature immune systems,” the company said.
Target added that while healthy individuals would be more likely to experience localized infections, infants and immunocompromised people face a greater risk of more serious complications.
The FDA has published a complete list of affected products, item numbers and manufacturing codes as part of the recall notice.
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