Target Lawsuit Claims Up&Up Baby Wipes Recall Was Designed To Limit Consumer Relief

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Target failed to disclose that its now-recalled Up&Up Fragrance-Free and Fresh Cucumber-Scented baby wipes were potentially contaminated with bacteria capable of causing serious, potentially life-threatening infections in newborns and infants.

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The 25-page complaint says that after testing revealed that samples of Target’s private-label baby wipes were contaminated with two potentially fatal bacteria—Burkholderia cepacia complex and Burkholderia gladioli—the retailer issued a recall on June 4, 2026.

Per the case, consumers were instructed to immediately stop using the affected Up&Up wipes and either return them to a Target store or contact guest relations for more information. However, the lawsuit argues that Target was “well aware” that the first reaction of many consumers after learning of the recall would be to throw away the affected products, believing the wipes were worthless or unsafe to keep.

The suit contends that consumers who no longer possess the products, failed to retain receipts, or made purchases at varying locations may be unable to obtain relief through the baby wipes recall.

“Accordingly, Defendant’s recall is designed to minimize Defendant’s own liability, to reach very few people, and to benefit very few of the consumers who purchased the Products,” the filing alleges.

According to the class action lawsuit, Target recalled the following wipes:

• Up&Up Fragrance Free baby wipes in 20, 72, 216, 800, 1200 counts with a manufacturing date code of November 7, 2025 (071125X/XX) to May 5, 2026 (050526X/XXX), and expiration dates between May 10, 2028 and November 5, 2028; and
• Up&Up Fresh Cucumber-Scented baby wipes in 72, 216, 800 counts with a manufacturing date code of December 29, 2025 (291225X/XX) to December 30, 2025 (301225X/XX), and expiration dates between June 29, 2028 and June 30, 2028.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that Target knew or should have known that the Up&Up wipes contained or could contain bacteria that may be particularly dangerous to the target users for whom the products are intended: infants, babies, and young children.

According to the FDA, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream through lesions and breaks in the skin and cause infections, sepsis, pneumonia and other serious complications in individuals with immature immune systems, the filing says.

Despite these risks, Target marketed the wipes as safe for use on children while highlighting claims such as “pediatrician and dermatologist tested” and “hypoallergenic,” leading consumers to reasonably believe that the wipes were free from harmful ingredients, the suit alleges.

“Consumers lack the meaningful ability to test or independently ascertain or verify whether a product contains unsafe substances, such as harmful bacteria, especially at the point of sale, and therefore must and do rely on Defendant to truthfully and honestly report what the Products contain or are at risk of containing,” the complaint reads.

The Up&Up baby wipes class action lawsuit looks to represent all consumers who purchased the products in the United States within the applicable statute of limitations period.

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