TL;DR: The CDC's June 22, 2026 Food Safety Newsletter warns consumers not to feed infants recalled Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula linked to infant botulism, and summarizes 2024 surveillance showing persistent Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria and rising drug-resistant infections.

Summer update centers on temperature control and new 2024 data

Food Safety Updates From CDC is an electronic newsletter of food safety news for educators, consumer advocates, government officials, and industry representatives, according to the Food Safety Newsletter | Food Safety | CDC.

The issue dated June 22, 2026 is framed as a Summer Scoop. It states that summer brings more picnics, cookouts, and meals outdoors, and that foodborne germs can spread more easily, especially when food isn't kept at safe temperatures.

This quarter, the newsletter says it is sharing new data, key findings, and steps to keep people healthy through summer.

The summer food safety tip in the issue advises keeping hot food hot and cold food cold at picnics, barbecues or outdoor buffets. Hot foods should stay heated to a temperature above 140°F, and cold foods should be kept at 40°F or lower to help prevent harmful germs from growing in the "danger zone."

Recall alert: Nara Organics infant formula linked to botulism

What the CDC newsletter warns

The newsletter includes a recall alert stating: Do not feed infants recalled Nara Organics Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula. It states the formula has been linked to a multistate outbreak of infant botulism.

It advises seeking health care immediately if an infant fed Nara Organics infant formula has poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing, or decreased facial expression.

Three-state investigation and retail scope

According to the Washington State Department of Health release titled Infant formula recalled because of link to infant botulism cases, including in Washington, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Washington State Department of Health, Thurston County, and officials in two other states are investigating an outbreak of botulism linked to powdered infant formula produced by Nara Organics.

That release, issued June 16, 2026, reports three infants in three states involved in the outbreak, including one infant in Thurston County, Washington, who was hospitalized and received treatment for infant botulism. All reported cases involved infants who consumed Nara Organics powdered infant formula.

The company voluntarily recalled the formula. The recalled formula was sold nationwide through Target stores, Target.com, and Nara.com.

The Washington release instructs purchasers not to use the product, to throw it away or return it to where it was bought, and to record the lot number before discarding if the container is still available. For open containers, it refers readers to CDC recommendations.

It also advises washing items and surfaces that may have touched the recalled formula using hot, soapy water or a dishwasher.

Symptoms listed in the state release include poor feeding, loss of head control, muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, and decreased facial expression. It notes symptoms can take as long as several weeks to develop and urges continued monitoring by parents and caregivers whose infants consumed recalled formula.

The release describes infant botulism as a rare illness that most commonly affects babies less than 6 months of age. It explains that babies become ill when bacteria known as Clostridium botulinum that they ingested produce a toxin that can weaken muscles. It notes these bacteria are naturally found in dust, soil, and honey, which should never be given to babies under a year, and states it is rare for a commercial infant food product to be linked to an outbreak of infant botulism. It describes the investigation as active and points to CDC and FDA pages for current updates.

203 multistate outbreaks investigated in 2024

CDC recently released several new reports on foodborne illnesses data for 2024, and the newsletter states together they show many germs that make people sick are still common and continued efforts are needed to keep food safe.

A new summary report highlights findings from 203 possible multistate enteric intestinal disease outbreaks investigated by CDC in 2024. These outbreaks were caused by germs like Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter.

The most common sources included vegetable crops, chicken, dairy, and backyard poultry. While Listeria outbreaks were fewer, they caused the most serious illnesses.

The newsletter states downloadable data from the summary can be used to identify gaps in food safety and animal husbandry practices and inform policies and practices to prevent similar outbreaks.

FoodNet, Vibrio and attribution estimates show persistent burden

Preliminary data from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, known as FoodNet, which represents 15% of the U.S. population, show reported infections for some common foodborne germs increased or stayed the same in 2024 compared with 2016–2018.

Infections increased for Cyclospora, Shigella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, Vibrio, and Yersinia and remained steady for Listeria and Salmonella. The newsletter points readers to the full report and to FoodNet Fast to explore data reported since 1996.

CDC also released a summary report of U.S. infections reported for 2024 to the Cholera and Other Vibrio Illness Surveillance system, called COVIS. The summary describes the Vibrio species causing the most illness, whether people were infected by eating seafood or through contact with marine water, seafood drippings, or marine animals, and patterns in who became sick.

The Interagency Food Safety Analytics Collaboration, known as IFSAC, released a report of annual estimates of foodborne illness attributed to 17 food categories for Salmonella, E. coli O157, and Listeria for 2023. IFSAC calculated the estimates using 1998–2023 foodborne outbreak data. The newsletter states the report continues IFSAC's work to inform food safety initiatives, interventions, and policies.

Drug-resistant Salmonella Infantis strain tied to chicken

Two recent CDC studies examined Salmonella Infantis, which has re-emerged as a leading type of Salmonella causing human infection in the United States.

Both studies looked at a persistent Salmonella Infantis strain called REPJFX01 that is resistant to the main antibiotics recommended for treating Salmonella infections and has been linked to chicken consumption.

One study found the increase in Infantis infections among people is driven by REPJFX01. The other found REPJFX01 emerged in humans and chickens at the same time, suggesting chickens might be an important carrier of the strain.

The newsletter states findings will help CDC better understand REPJFX01 and collaborate with partners on measures to reduce its spread.

Extensively drug-resistant Shigella expands since 2015

On April 9, CDC published an article about extensively drug-resistant, or XDR, shigellosis. Shigellosis is a diarrheal disease caused by Shigella bacteria.

Although most infections do not need antibiotic treatment, antibiotics may be used for severe illness or to reduce spread among people at risk. The bacteria causing XDR shigellosis are resistant to all FDA-approved oral antibiotics, which makes treatment challenging.

Since 2015, a growing number of shigellosis cases in the United States have been caused by XDR Shigella. Data show most cases of XDR shigellosis were adult men. About one third of sick people were hospitalized.

CDC continues to monitor XDR Shigella, work with state and local public health partners, and share prevention and treatment recommendations to help prevent illness and protect public health.

Backyard poultry linked to 513 illnesses across 42 states

Eight outbreaks remain open

According to the CDC investigation page titled Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Backyard Poultry, public health officials in several states were investigating eight multistate outbreaks of Salmonella illnesses linked to contact with backyard poultry, with investigation status listed as open on June 17, 2026.

The page reports 513 cases, including 329 new cases, 134 hospitalizations including 81 new hospitalizations, one death, and cases in 42 states and a U.S. territory, including 12 new jurisdictions.

It states a quarter of sick people in the outbreaks are children under 5 years old. It also states the largest outbreak has an unusually high number of people reporting contact with ducks.

The page states backyard poultry, like chickens and ducks, can carry Salmonella germs even if they look healthy and clean, and that germs can spread to anything in areas where poultry live and roam. It states people can get sick from touching poultry or the environment and then touching mouth or food.

Handwashing, flock and egg guidance

Recommended actions include washing hands with soap and water immediately after touching backyard poultry, eggs, or anything in the area where they live and roam, and using hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available.

Other steps include not kissing or snuggling poultry, not eating or drinking around them, keeping flocks and supplies such as feed containers and coop shoes outside the house, and cleaning supplies outside.

For children, the page advises always supervising children around poultry and ensuring handwashing afterward. It states children younger than 5 years old should not handle chicks, ducklings, or other backyard poultry or spend time in areas where the animals live and roam.

For eggs, it advises collecting eggs often, throwing away cracked eggs, cleaning dirty eggs carefully with fine sandpaper, brush, or cloth, not washing eggs because cold water can pull germs into the egg, refrigerating eggs, and cooking eggs until yolk and white are firm, including cooking egg dishes to an internal temperature of 160°F.

It lists warning signs for seeking care, including diarrhea with fever higher than 102°F, diarrhea for more than 2 days without improvement, bloody diarrhea, vomiting that prevents keeping liquids down, and signs of dehydration such as not peeing much, dry mouth and throat, and dizziness when standing.

Most people infected with Salmonella experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, with symptoms usually starting 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing bacteria and recovery without treatment after 4 to 7 days. It notes children younger than 5, adults 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems may experience more severe illness requiring treatment or hospitalization.

Soft-cheese Listeria outbreak broadens recall

According to the Food Safety News report titled Company expands cheese recall; Listeria outbreak traced to products, the FDA and CDC with state and local partners were investigating a multi-state, multi-year outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to requeson, a soft cheese similar to ricotta, manufactured by Clover Hill Dairy LLC of Mechanicsville, Maryland.

The report states nine patients were identified, eight were hospitalized, and one died. Clover Hill expanded its recall to include all cheese products manufactured by the firm.

Listed categories include soft and semi-soft Spanish style varieties such as Cuajada, Soft Cuajada, Soft Cuajada in Brine, Soft Cuajada Crumbs, Ricotta/Requeson, and Soft Ricotta with Jalapenos, plus mild, hard, smoked, flavored, and pepper cheese varieties.

A distributor, Nelson & Isa Lacteos LLC of Bay Shore, New York, initiated a recall on June 5 of 1-pound packages of requeson cheese sold in clear plastic clam-shell containers to retail locations in New York from May 15 to May 28. The report notes recalled cheese was likely repacked at retail stores and labeling may vary.

Clover Hill cheese was distributed from May 4 through May 30 in North Carolina, New York, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., through bulk distributors, retail stores and directly to consumers.

On June 14, the Maryland Department of Health announced an expanded consumer advisory for all cheese products made by Clover Hill Dairy due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The report states six requeson product samples tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes and matched the outbreak strain, and one environmental sample collected by Maryland investigators also matched.

Sources referenced