Deadly Bacteria Found in Baby Wipes Sold at Vestal Target

Target has issued an active recall on its Up & Up store-brand baby wipes after the FDA found dangerous bacteria may be living inside the product itself. Not on the outside of the package. Inside the wipes. The kind of bacteria that, in a healthy adult, might cause a rash or some irritation. The kind that, in a baby or a child with an underdeveloped immune system, can enter the bloodstream and become life-threatening.

If you've grabbed a pack of these off the shelf at the Target on Vestal Parkway in the last several months, your next step is to go find that package right now and check the codes on the back before you use another one.

What the FDA Found Inside the Recalled Up & Up Wipes

Most product recalls are precautionary. This one is different. FDA lab testing confirmed the presence of two specific bacteria, Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli, in actual product samples. These weren't found on a factory surface or in an isolated batch. They were in the wipes themselves.

For context: these bacteria are classified as opportunistic pathogens. That medical language basically means they look for a weak point and exploit it. A newborn's immune system, still months away from being fully functional, is exactly that weak point.

Exposure can lead to sepsis or pneumonia, both of which can turn critical fast. Parents first flagged the problem when they noticed the wipes looked off, brownish, or discolored, and some reported their children developed rashes and eye infections shortly after use. Those reports are still under investigation, but Target didn't wait for the investigation to close before issuing the recall.

Which Up & Up Baby Wipe Batches Are Recalled

Two Up & Up varieties are affected. Grab your package and flip it over.

For Up & Up Fragrance Free Baby Wipes, check whether your package is a 20, 72, or 100 count pouch, a 216 count bundle, or an 800 or 1,200 count box. Then look for the manufacturing code stamped on the back. If it falls anywhere between 071125X/XX (November 7, 2025) and 050526X/XXX (May 5, 2026), your wipes are recalled. The corresponding expiration dates run from 100528 (May 10, 2028) through 051128 (November 5, 2028).

For Up & Up Fresh Cucumber Scented Baby Wipes, the affected sizes are 72 count pouches, 216 count bundles, and 800 count boxes. The manufacturing window here is much narrower, just two days: 291225X/XX (December 29, 2025) through 301225X/XX (December 30, 2025). Expiration dates run from 290628 (June 29, 2028) through 300628 (June 30, 2028).

If your package matches, set it aside and don't touch it again.

How to Return Recalled Target Wipes for a Full Refund

Take the package back to the Target on Vestal Parkway. You do not need your receipt. Walk up to guest services and tell them you have a recalled product. They will give you a full refund on the spot, no argument, no forms to fill out.

If you have questions about your specific batch or you bought the wipes online and aren't sure about the return process, call Target Guest Relations at 1-800-440-0680. They're available every day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT.

Get our free mobile app

If Your Child Has Already Been Showing Symptoms

This is the part that matters most. If your baby or young child has had unexplained skin irritation, red or swollen eyes, or any sign of infection over the past few weeks and you've been using these wipes, call your pediatrician today and tell them about the possible exposure.

If you can't reach your regular doctor, both UHS and Lourdes have options for same-day care. Don't sit on this. With bacterial infections in infants, the window between "something seems off" and "we need to act now" can be shorter than most parents expect.