Target recalls Up&Up baby wipes due to potential bacterial contamination

Target is voluntarily recalling some of their Up & Up brand baby wipes due to potential contamination.

Recalled wipes include Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes in 20-count, 72-count, 216-count, 800-count, and 1200-count packages, as well as Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes in 72-count, 216-count, and 800-count packages. They were sold both in Target stores across the U.S. and on Target’s website.

According to a Target announcement shared by the Food and Drug Administration Friday, the company said it received complaints about the wipes getting discolored. After testing from the FDA, some product samples contained the presence of Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli bacteria, naturally occurring bacteria that can cause illness in humans and pose a higher risk to 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,” Target said in its announcement. “In healthy individuals, use of the product on skin with minor lesions will more likely result in local infections, whereas in immunocompromised individuals, newborns, infants and young children, the infection is more likely to spread into the bloodstream, potentially leading to life-threatening sepsis or pneumonia.”

In the recall notice, Target said both it and the wipes manufacturer, Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, have 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.”

News has reached out to the manufacturer for comment.

In a statement to News, a Target spokesperson said, “We care deeply about the safety of our guests and our products. Out of an abundance of caution, Target has voluntarily recalled Up&Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up&Up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes. For additional information, including refunds and impacted product information, please view the release.”

Anyone with recalled wipes is being advised to stop using the products immediately. Customers can return them to any Target store for a full refund and can reach out to Target Guest Relations for more information at 1-800-440-0680 from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily.

A full list of recalled wipes, their item numbers, UPC numbers, manufacturing codes and expiration dates can be found in the FDA announcement.