Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes Recall Lawsuit Investigation

Target is voluntarily recalling Up & Up Fragrance Free and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes after tests found two types of bacteria in some packages. Target announced the recall on June 4, 2026. FDA testing identified Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, bacteria that may cause serious, life-threatening infections, especially in newborns, infants and people with weak immune systems. The affected wipes were sold at Target stores nationwide and on Target.com. The recall remains open. On June 29, 2026, the FDA classified it Class I, its most serious category, without expanding the original warning. Anyone with the recalled wipes should stop using them and return them to Target for a refund.

Latest up & up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes Recall Updates

June 29, 2026: FDA Publishes Class I Classification

On June 29, 2026, the FDA published two reports about Target‘s recall. The reports set its class as Class I, the FDA’s top level, per a Snopes fact-check [1]. Class I means there is a real chance of serious harm or death. The reports listed a recall-start date of May 29, 2026. The FDA says this step does not expand the recall or make it worse.

June 12, 2026: Proposed Class Action Filed Against Target

On Friday, June 12, 2026, Law360 reported that a proposed class action was filed against Target Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois [2]. The suit seeks refunds and punitive damages. The claim focuses on refund handling rather than personal injury. No multidistrict litigation, settlement or named verdict has been identified for this product.

June 5, 2026: FDA Publishes Its Recall Notice

On June 5, 2026, the FDA posted its own notice. This came one day after Target’s announcement. It named Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli as the germs found in tests [3]. The FDA’s notice listed the wipes’ product type as Cosmetics and repeated the same hazard warning Target had already given, without adding new details about the germs themselves.

June 4, 2026: Target Announces the Voluntary Recall

Target Corporation said in a press release that it was voluntarily recalling Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes and Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes on June 4, 2026, after customers reported discolored wipes [4]. Target told consumers to stop using the recalled wipes and return them for a full refund, and it published contact information for questions from customers nationwide.

Which up & up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes Are Affected?

Target’s recall covers two Up & Up wipe products, listed below with their package counts, UPC codes and manufacturing or expiration date ranges:

• Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes – 20, 72, 216 (3-pack), 800, and 1200 count (UPCs 085239265956, 085239265949, 085239265963, 085239266137, and 085239266090), manufactured November 7, 2025 through May 5, 2026, expiring May 10, 2028 through November 5, 2028
• Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes – 72, 216 (3-pack), and 800 count (UPCs 085239265970, 085239265994, and 085239265987), manufactured December 29-30, 2025, expiring June 29-30, 2028

The UPC appears on the package label, and the manufacturing or expiration date is printed on the wipes pouch or box. Target’s recall notice lists every code in full.

Why Were the up & up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes Recalled?

The Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Baby Wipes were recalled because FDA tests found two germs in some samples. The germs were Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli. Customers had first flagged the wipes as discolored. Target and the manufacturer, Sapro Temizlik Urunleri, began investigating after the discoloration complaints, and the FDA’s testing confirmed the contamination before Target issued the recall. Most complaints reported so far describe discoloration and irritation rather than confirmed illness. These are the same bacteria named above, and the same vulnerable groups face the greatest risk. CHOP’s clinician guidance adds that most healthy children exposed to the wipes will not need treatment [5].

Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses

Target and Sapro Temizlik Urunleri got a number of complaints and adverse-event reports about the recalled wipes. These reports named discoloration, skin irritation, eye irritation and infections. Target has not made the exact count public. These reports remain under investigation, and Target says it is coordinating with the manufacturer to review them. A reported symptom does not by itself prove the wipes caused it. In the newborns, infants and immunocompromised people described above, an infection is more likely to spread into the bloodstream and lead to sepsis or pneumonia. Healthy people with minor skin lesions are more likely to develop only a local infection, according to Target’s press release.

What Should Consumers Do?

Anyone who has the recalled Up & Up wipes at home should take the following steps to stay safe and get a refund:

1. Stop using the recalled Up & Up Fragrance Free and Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes right away, even if the package looks normal.
2. Check the UPC and date codes on the package against the list above to confirm whether your wipes are part of the recall.
3. Return the recalled wipes to any Target store for a full refund, even if you no longer have your receipt.
4. Call Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680 (7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT daily) for help identifying your package or requesting a refund.
5. To report a problem directly to the FDA, call 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).
6. According to CHOP, watch your child for skin or eye irritation, fever or unusual fussiness, and call your pediatrician if any of these symptoms appear.
7. Seek medical care without delay if your child spikes a fever, becomes difficult to rouse, struggles to breathe, or stops feeding normally.

Legal Options

A proposed class action was filed against Target on June 12, 2026. It was filed in Illinois federal court. It seeks refunds and punitive damages over how Target handled the recall. That filing remains the only legal action identified for this product so far, and no MDL, settlement or verdict has followed it. The lawsuit concerns Target’s refund process rather than any physical injury. A recall does not automatically establish that a company is legally liable or that a claim would succeed. Only an individual legal review can address one person’s situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Symptoms Should Parents Watch for After Using the Recalled Wipes?

Parents should watch for skin irritation, rash or redness, eye irritation, fever, or unusual fussiness after using the recalled Up & Up wipes. Most children who show these signs have mild symptoms that improve once the wipes are stopped.

Are All up & up Baby Wipes Part of This Recall?

No, not all Up & Up baby wipes are part of this recall. The recall covers only the specific counts and UPC codes listed above. Other Up & Up wipes are not affected.

Was the up & up Baby Wipes Recall Upgraded to a More Serious Level?

The Up & Up baby wipes recall was not upgraded to a higher risk level. The claim spread on social media after a Daily Mail headline called the FDA’s routine Class I label an “upgrade.” FDA guidance says that labeling step does not make the recall bigger.

Are Children with Cystic Fibrosis at Higher Risk from the Recalled Wipes?

Children with cystic fibrosis face a higher general risk of Burkholderia infection, but CHOP notes that risk comes mainly from breathing in the bacteria, not from skin contact with the recalled wipes. Parents should still watch for the same skin, eye and fever symptoms as any child.

What Should I Do If My Child Shows Symptoms After Using the Recalled Wipes?

If your child shows symptoms after using the recalled wipes, the response depends on severity. For mild skin irritation, CHOP advises stopping use, rinsing the area with water, and calling your pediatrician if the rash does not improve. With no symptoms, CHOP says no treatment is needed for now.

What Does the Lawsuit Against Target Allege?

The lawsuit against Target alleges that its recall left some buyers without the refunds they were promised, according to Law360. It focuses on how Target handled the recall process rather than any injury from the wipes themselves.

References

1. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/target-baby-wipes-recall/
2. https://www.law360.com/illinois/articles/2489599
3. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/target-recalls-fragrance-free-and-fresh-cucumber-scented-baby-wipes-due-potential-microbial
4. https://corporate.target.com/press/release/2026/06/target-recalls-up-up-fragrance-free-and-fresh-cucumber-scented-baby-wipes-due-to-potential-microbi
5. https://www.chop.edu/recall-questions-and-answers-target-fragrance-free-and-fresh-cucumber-scented-baby-wipes