THE APEX TIMES
Target recalls Up & Up baby wipes after FDA testing finds potential Burkholderia contamination
The retailer said customer complaints of discoloration prompted testing that detected Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli in select fragrance-free and cucumber-scented baby wipe products. Target urged shoppers to stop using the wipes and return them for a full refund.
Target said it is voluntarily recalling select Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes after FDA testing found evidence of potential microbial contamination, specifically Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, in product samples. The company traced the recall to customer complaints about product discoloration, and it said the wipes are primarily used on newborns, infants, and young children who can be more vulnerable to serious infections.
In its announcement, Target said the affected fragrance-free wipes are sold in multiple pack sizes, with specific UPC barcode numbers listed for each size: 20 count (UPC 085239265956), 72 count (UPC 085239265949), 216 count (UPC 085239265963), 800 count (UPC 085239266137), and 1200 count (UPC 085239266090). Target also provided manufacturing date code ranges for these products, describing fragrance-free wipe manufacturing codes from November 07, 2025 (071125X/XX) through May 05, 2026 (050526X/XXX), with expiration dates ranging from May 10, 2028 (100528) through November 5, 2028 (051128).
Target also said the recalled fresh cucumber-scented wipes come in three pack configurations, with their own UPCs: 72 count (UPC 085239265970), 216 count (UPC 085239265994), and 800 count (UPC 085239265987). For these cucumber-scented wipes, Target listed manufacturing date code ranges from December 29, 2025 (291225X/XX) through December 30, 2025 (301225X/XX), and expiration dates between June 29, 2028 (290628) and June 30, 2028 (300628).
Target told consumers to stop using the recalled products immediately and return them to any Target store for a full refund. The company also said customers can contact Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680, with hours listed from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Time daily, for more information.
The announcement tied the recall risk to potential infections associated with the Burkholderia bacteria. Target said use of products contaminated with Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli may result in serious and life-threatening infections. It added that, in healthy individuals, use on skin with minor lesions is more likely to result in localized infections, while immunocompromised individuals, newborns, infants, and young children face a higher risk of infection spreading into the bloodstream, potentially leading to sepsis or pneumonia.
Target said it and the wipes’ manufacturer, Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, have received consumer complaints and adverse event reports alleging product discoloration and symptoms including skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections potentially associated with the product. Target did not quantify how many reports it received and said the reports remain under investigation, while the company coordinates with the manufacturer and continues to investigate the matter.
The recall comes with broad compliance and reputational implications because Up & Up products are one of Target’s key private-label lines. For retailers, recalls on consumer hygiene items can trigger store-level pull actions, refund logistics, and potential costs tied to inventory handling, even when the company frames the action as voluntary and precautionary. Regulators can also increase attention on supplier quality systems when bacteria are detected in end products.
Target did not disclose several details in its announcement, including the specific number of units distributed or sold, whether any illnesses were confirmed to be caused by the wipes, and the root cause of how contamination occurred during manufacturing or distribution. The FDA posted the company announcement publicly as a service, but it did not provide additional findings beyond the summary Target supplied. Shoppers can reduce exposure risk by checking packaging for the listed UPCs and manufacturing/expiration codes, while updates from Target and regulators will be key to see if the scope changes. Target said the recall is being conducted with the knowledge of the FDA, and consumers should watch for follow-up guidance on the resolution of the investigation.
Why It Matters
- The recall highlights quality-control and supplier oversight risks for major retailers using private-label brands, especially in infant and pediatric products.
- If contamination concerns expand or illness claims increase, Target could face additional refund, customer-service, and supply-chain scrutiny.
- The presence of bacteria linked to serious infections raises heightened consumer attention and could affect trust in the Up & Up line.
- Ongoing investigations and potential future regulatory updates will shape how the market views Target’s private-brand safety processes.
Sources
Key Facts
- Target announced a voluntary recall of select Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes.
- The recall followed customer complaints about product discoloration and FDA testing that detected Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli in product samples.
- Target listed affected fragrance-free products by pack size UPC, with manufacturing date code ranges from November 07, 2025 through May 05, 2026 and expiration dates from May 10, 2028 through November 5, 2028.
- Target listed affected cucumber-scented wipes by pack size UPC, with manufacturing date codes from December 29, 2025 through December 30, 2025 and expiration dates from June 29, 2028 through June 30, 2028.
- Target told consumers to stop using the recalled wipes and return them to any Target store for a full refund, or contact Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680.
- Target said it and the manufacturer, Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, have received adverse event reports alleging discoloration, skin or eye irritation, and infections potentially associated with the product, and those reports remain under investigation.
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