Newborn’s Listeria Death Linked to Mom Drinking Raw Milk
Bottles of raw milk are displayed for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/JoNel Aleccia, File)
New Mexico Officials Warn of Raw Milk Risks After Infant Listeria Death
New Mexico health authorities are cautioning the public about the dangers of raw milk following the death of a newborn from a listeria infection that may be linked to the mother’s consumption of unpasteurized dairy during pregnancy.
The state Department of Health said it cannot definitively trace the infection to a single source, but investigators believe the mother drank raw milk while pregnant, according to NBC News. Officials emphasized that the tragic loss highlights the serious health risks raw milk poses, particularly for pregnant people, infants, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems.
Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Chad Smelser urged pregnant women to stick to pasteurized milk to reduce the risk of severe illness and newborn deaths.
Listeria, which can be found in raw milk, has been linked to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and life-threatening infections in infants and vulnerable adults. Nearly 200 people in the U.S. die from listeria infections each year, CBS News reports.
The department also listed other pathogens that can be present in unpasteurized milk, including bird flu, brucella, tuberculosis, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium, and E. coli.
Federal regulations have long discouraged raw milk consumption. The sale of raw milk across state lines has been prohibited since 1987, though interest in raw dairy products has grown, and some advocates continue to push for relaxed rules. Raw Farm, the largest raw milk company in the U.S., said that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. once showed interest in loosening restrictions but has not responded to calls recently, according to Mother Jones.
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