SAN FRANCISCO — Nara Organics recalled its organic baby formula sold nationwide in Target stores and online on Saturday after a multistate outbreak of infant botulism.

Three infants aged 2 to 5 months became ill in April and May in California, Pennsylvania, and Washington after consuming the formula. They were hospitalized and received an agency-approved treatment for infant botulism. The recalled formula is manufactured in Europe and sold exclusively in the U.S.

Infant botulism occurs in babies under age 1 and is caused by consuming bacterial spores that produce a toxin in the digestive system. Symptoms of infant botulism can include constipation, poor feeding, drooping eyelids, weak muscle tone, difficulty swallowing, and breathing problems. Babies exhibiting these symptoms require immediate medical attention. The only available treatment for infant botulism is BabyBIG, an intravenous medication produced from the blood plasma of immunized donors.

Federal health officials directed consumers to stop using the product immediately. Health officials advised consumers with opened cans to photograph the product, record the lot number and use-by date, and monitor infants for symptoms. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control stated, "Label it 'DO NOT USE' and keep it stored in a safe place away from other items you feed your baby for at least a month. If no symptoms appear after a month, throw the leftover formula away."

The formula accounts for less than 1 percent of all infant formula sold in the U.S. Federal health officials stated that the outbreak does not create any shortage concerns for parents and caregivers.