Target recalls Up & Up baby wipes after FDA finds bacteria that can cause serious infections
Target has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of select Up & Up Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber baby wipes after FDA testing found Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli — organisms that can cause serious infections in newborns, infants and immunocompromised people.
- Products affected: Specific lots of Up & Up Fragrance Free and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber baby wipes sold at Target.
- Hazard: FDA detected Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, which can cause skin infections and, in vulnerable people, bloodstream infections or pneumonia.
- Action: Stop using affected packs immediately and return them to any Target store for a full refund; contact Target Guest Relations at 1‑800‑440‑0680 with questions.
- Verification: Compare UPC, lot/manufacturing code and package size to the FDA list before discarding or returning a pack.
What is being recalled
Target and manufacturer Sapro Temizlik Urunleri are voluntarily recalling certain lots of two Up & Up baby‑wipe products sold in Target stores and online across the United States. The recall covers multiple package sizes:
- Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes: 20‑count, 72‑count, 216‑count, 800‑count and 1,200‑count packages.
- Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes: 72‑count, 216‑count and 800‑count packages.
The recall applies only to specific lots. Consumers should compare the UPC/barcode, lot or manufacturing code and package size to the FDA’s full list before determining whether a pack is affected. See the FDA recall notice for the complete UPCs, manufacturing codes and configurations.
Manufacturing and expiration dates
Fragrance Free wipes: Manufactured between November 7, 2025 and May 5, 2026; expiration dates from May 10, 2028 through November 5, 2028.
Fresh Cucumber wipes: Manufactured between December 29 and December 30, 2025; expiration dates from June 29, 2028 through June 30, 2028. These date ranges are listed in the FDA recall notice.
Why the wipes are being recalled
The recall follows multiple consumer complaints of discoloration — including wipes turning brown — and subsequent FDA testing. When samples were analyzed, the FDA detected Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli. Target and Sapro Temizlik Urunleri received reports of discoloration, skin and eye irritation, and possible infections; those reports are under investigation. For details see the FDA recall notice and Target’s Product Recalls page.
Health risks and who is most at risk
Burkholderia species are opportunistic bacteria. In healthy people, contaminated wipes may cause a localized skin infection if applied to broken skin. However, for newborns, infants and people with weakened immune systems the bacteria can spread and lead to bloodstream infections (sepsis), pneumonia or other serious systemic disease. Medical literature links B. cepacia complex to hospital outbreaks and severe illness in people with certain lung conditions. The FDA notes infants and immunocompromised individuals are particularly vulnerable; consult the FDA recall notice for official guidance.
Reported symptoms so far
Target and the manufacturer have received “a number of consumer complaints and adverse event reports” describing skin irritation, eye irritation and infections possibly linked to the wipes. Separately, an incident summary prepared by a plaintiff‑side law firm described consumers reporting wipes turning brown, a “weird chemical” smell and rashes in infants; that summary is anecdotal but aligns with complaints the FDA is investigating. See the law firm summary at incident reports.
Company and regulatory actions
Target said it “cares deeply about the safety of our guests and our products” and announced the voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution,” working with the manufacturer and the FDA. Sapro Temizlik Urunleri is cooperating with the investigation. Target has posted the recall on its Product Recalls page and is offering full refunds for returned items. Consumers can call Target Guest Relations at 1‑800‑440‑0680 (7 a.m.–10 p.m. CT daily).
Target: “We care deeply about the safety of our guests and our products.”
What consumers should do now
- Stop using any Up & Up Fragrance Free or Fresh Cucumber baby wipes until you verify the UPC and lot against the FDA list available in the FDA recall notice.
- If your package matches the affected lot, return it to any Target store for a full refund; no receipt should be required for a recall return per Target guidance on its recall help page.
- Watch for symptoms after use — new or worsening rash, redness, warmth or pus, eye irritation, fever, trouble breathing, extreme sleepiness — and seek medical care if symptoms appear; tell clinicians about possible exposure to Burkholderia‑contaminated wipes.
- Report adverse events to the FDA MedWatch program and to Target’s recall contacts.
Context and earlier reports
Consumer reports of discoloration, chemical smells and skin reactions tied to Up & Up Fragrance Free wipes appeared online and in a plaintiff‑side legal notice before FDA testing. Those accounts prompted scrutiny but were not regulatory findings until the FDA tested samples and confirmed bacterial contamination. This recall is the first federal notice naming specific Burkholderia species in the wipes. See early consumer accounts at incident reports and the government notice at the FDA recall notice.
Implications for The World
Although the recall is limited to Up & Up wipes sold at Target in the United States, it has broader lessons:
- Supply chain and manufacturing controls must prevent microbial contamination of everyday consumer products used on infants.
- Parents and caregivers worldwide should be alert to discoloration or odd smells in baby care products and treat such signs as possible contamination.
- Clinicians should consider recent use of wipes or topical products when investigating pediatric infections caused by opportunistic organisms like Burkholderia.
- Regulators globally may review similar products on their markets; families should know how to report adverse events to local health and consumer safety agencies.
For U.S. consumers, official information is available in the FDA recall notice and Target’s Product Recalls page. Background on early consumer reports can be found at the incident summary.
