Up & Up Baby Wipes Recall Lawsuit Investigation

Target has voluntarily recalled Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes. The company announced the recall on June 4, 2026, after tests found possible bacterial contamination in some samples. The recall covers eight package sizes of the two wipe varieties, sold nationwide at Target stores and on Target.com. The recall is open and active, and refunds are available now. A contaminated wipe may cause a skin or bloodstream infection, or eye irritation, with the greatest risk for newborns and infants. Consumers should stop using the wipes and return them for a refund.

Latest up & up Baby Wipes Recall Updates

June 29, 2026: FDA Classifies the Recall Class I

The FDA posted two enforcement reports on June 29, 2026, about Target‘s Up & Up wipes recall, according to a Snopes review of FDA’s enforcement reports [1]. Both reports classified it Class I, the agency’s top category. The reports listed a recall-initiation date of May 29, 2026. FDA guidance treats this classification step as routine and says it does not expand the original recall.

June 12, 2026: Families File a Proposed Class Action

Plaintiffs filed a proposed class action against Target on June 12, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Finek et al. v. Target Corporation, No. 1:26-cv-06966. The suit claims Target’s labeling left out the contamination risk and seeks refunds for the price consumers paid. It does not claim the contamination caused any specific infection or injury.

June 5, 2026: FDA Publishes Target’s Recall Notice

The FDA published Target’s recall notice on fda.gov on June 5, 2026, one day after Target’s own announcement [2]. The notice confirmed the same products, hazard, and refund remedy Target had already described. It also gave consumers an independent government record of the recall’s exact scope and package identifiers.

June 4, 2026: Target Announces the Recall

Target announced its voluntary recall of the wipes on June 4, 2026, after customers reported discoloration [3]. FDA testing on samples found Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli bacteria. The company asked customers to discontinue use and bring the affected packages back to a store for a refund. Target and its manufacturer said they had already logged complaints and adverse-event reports of discoloration and irritation.

What Is Burkholderia Cepacia?

Burkholderia cepacia complex is a group of related bacteria species found widely in soil, water, and other damp environments, according to a peer-reviewed review [4]. The review calls the group an opportunistic pathogen that mainly harms people with weak immune systems. It also names contaminated cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and disinfectants as documented sources of Bcc infections.

Which up & up Baby Wipes Are Affected?

Each of the following eight packages, across two Up & Up varieties, carries its own UPC and manufacturing code, printed on the package:

• Fragrance Free, 20 Count – UPC 085239265956, item 007-07-0092
• Fragrance Free, 72 Count – UPC 085239265949, item 007-07-0157
• Fragrance Free, 3-Pack/216 Count – UPC 085239265963, item 007-07-0146
• Fragrance Free, 8-Pack/800 Count – UPC 085239266137, item 007-07-0226
• Fragrance Free, 12-Pack/1200 Count – UPC 085239266090, item 007-07-9025
• Fresh Cucumber Scented, 72 Count – UPC 085239265970, item 007-07-0267
• Fresh Cucumber Scented, 3-Pack/216 Count – UPC 085239265994, item 007-07-0265
• Fresh Cucumber Scented, 8-Pack/800 Count – UPC 085239265987, item 007-07-0266

Fragrance Free packages carry manufacturing codes from November 7, 2025 through May 5, 2026, and expiration dates from May 10, 2028 through November 5, 2028. Fresh Cucumber Scented runs a shorter window: manufacturing codes from December 29-30, 2025, and expiration dates from June 29-30, 2028.

Why Were the up & up Baby Wipes Recalled?

Target recalled the wipes because customer complaints about discoloration led to FDA testing that confirmed bacterial contamination in product samples, as the recall updates above describe. The wipes are made for Target by Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, a private-label wet-wipes manufacturer based in Istanbul, Turkey, in business since 1997, according to the company’s own information. Target said it is coordinating with Sapro to investigate the cause. The FDA notice keeps the contamination finding separate from the health complaints. Testing confirmed the bacteria in samples but did not attribute every reported symptom to this specific cause. The same notice describes the hazard as bacterial contamination that may cause serious, life-threatening infections in some people, especially in newborns and infants.

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Consumer complaints and adverse-event reports connected to the recalled wipes described discoloration, skin irritation, eye irritation, and infections, according to Target and its manufacturer. A pediatric infectious disease specialist interviewed by NBC Selected said the bacteria in this recall can cause sepsis or pneumonia in very young infants or people with weakened immune systems, instead of a milder reaction [5]. Target has not given a specific count of complaints or a confirmed total of injuries. These reports remained under investigation as of the recall. A report of an adverse event is not the same as confirmed proof that a specific wipe caused a specific illness. Anyone who believes the wipes caused a health problem can still report it and seek follow-up medical care.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone with the recalled wipes should take the following steps:

1. Stop using the recalled wipes right away.
2. Match the item number or UPC printed on your package to the list of recalled sizes.
3. Return the wipes to any Target store for a full refund. You can also call Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680 for in-store purchases, or Target.com Guest Services at 1-800-591-3869 for online purchases, per Target’s help article [6].
4. Report a suspected reaction to the FDA’s MedWatch program, which takes consumer adverse-event reports.
5. Check any remaining wipes for discoloration, and watch for skin or eye irritation or signs of a spreading infection. Call a doctor right away if a baby shows any of these symptoms.

Legal Options

The Latest Updates above describe the proposed class action against Target over this recall. That case seeks money for buyers, not compensation for a specific injury. A recall does not automatically make Target legally responsible for an injury. No multidistrict litigation appears on the pending-MDL list maintained by the JPML for this product [7]. A parent or caregiver who believes a child developed a Burkholderia-related infection after using the recalled wipes may want a lawyer to review the claim. This individual injury review would be separate from the Finek class action.

Filing Deadlines

State law, not this recall, sets the deadline for filing a legal claim. The deadline depends on where a person lives and when the exposure or injury happened. Some states start the clock on the diagnosis date rather than the exposure date. A claim can be barred once its deadline passes, no matter how strong the facts are. Anyone considering a claim tied to this recall should talk to a lawyer soon to learn the deadline that applies to their own situation, since deadlines differ by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has a Lawsuit Been Filed over the up & up Baby Wipes Recall?

A lawsuit has been filed over the up & up baby wipes recall. O’Neal, one of two named plaintiffs, joined the case seeking refunds on behalf of buyers who paid full price for the wipes. The suit does not seek damages for a specific illness.

What Are the Symptoms of a Burkholderia Infection from Baby Wipes?

Symptoms of a Burkholderia infection from baby wipes can include skin irritation, eye irritation, and, in serious cases, a bloodstream infection. Newborns and people with weak immune systems face the highest risk, since the infection can spread and cause sepsis or pneumonia instead of a milder reaction.

How Do I Know If My up & up Baby Wipes Are Part of the Recall?

You can know if your up & up baby wipes are part of the recall by checking the UPC and manufacturing code on the package. Match them against the list in this recall. Target’s help article and customer service can also confirm whether a specific item number is included.

What Evidence Should I Keep If My Child Was Affected?

If your child was affected, keep the wipes package with its UPC and code, your receipt or Target order history, and photos of any discoloration. Also keep any medical records from a doctor visit tied to symptoms. This evidence can support a refund request or a later legal review.

What Precautions Should Parents Take When Buying Baby Wipes?

Parents should take precautions when buying baby wipes, according to Dr. Sharon Nachman, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Stony Brook Medicine. She recommends smelling wipes for any odd odor, checking for discoloration, and buying smaller packages so bacteria have less time to grow in an open one.

What Are the Hours for Recall Questions About the up & up Baby Wipes?

The hours for recall questions about the up & up baby wipes are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central time daily for in-store purchases, per Target’s help article. Online purchase hours are not listed separately, and both phone numbers are listed above under What Should Consumers Do.

References

1. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/target-baby-wipes-recall/
2. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/target-recalls-fragrance-free-and-fresh-cucumber-scented-baby-wipes-due-potential-microbial
3. https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/06/target-recalls-up-up-fragrance-free-and-fresh-cucumber-scented-baby-wipes-due-to-potential-microbi
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2929507/
5. https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/up-and-up-baby-wipe-recall-target-2026-rcna595882
6. https://help.target.com/help/TargetGuestHelpPRArticleDetail?articleId=ka9Kd00000008MjIAI&articleTitle=Up%26Up+Fragrance+Free+and+Fresh+Cucumber+Scented+Baby+Wipes
7. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/pending-mdls-0