Experts warn against drinking raw milk after New Mexico baby's listeria death

February 5, 2026

A newborn infant in New Mexico died from a listeria infection likely contracted when the mother consumed raw, unpasteurized milk during pregnancy, prompting health officials to issue warnings about the dangers of raw dairy products. The tragedy occurs amid growing popularity of raw milk, fueled by social media influencers and supporters of the Make America Healthy Again movement who tout unverified health benefits despite scientific evidence showing pasteurization doesn't reduce nutritional value. Health experts emphasize that even milk from apparently healthy animals and clean dairies can harbor deadly pathogens including listeria, E.

Who is affected

A newborn baby in New Mexico (deceased)
The infant's mother who consumed raw milk during pregnancy
Pregnant women, young children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised people (identified as high-risk groups)
Ballerina Farm (Hannah and Daniel Neeleman's company) and its customers
Raw milk consumers influenced by social media content
Unlicensed raw milk producers

What action is being taken

New Mexico health department is issuing warnings against raw milk consumption
Ballerina Farm has paused sales of raw milk
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food conducted milk testing that found health violations
Health experts like Professor Kali Kneil are publicly cautioning against raw milk consumption

Why it matters

Raw milk consumption poses serious, potentially fatal health risks, particularly to vulnerable populations including pregnant women and newborns, with neonatal listeria carrying a 20-30% mortality rate. Despite social media promotion of unverified benefits, scientific evidence shows pasteurization eliminates dangerous pathogens without reducing nutritional value, making the consumption of raw milk an unnecessary and dangerous risk. The growing popularity of raw milk through influencer marketing and political movements threatens public health by encouraging unsafe behaviors that can result in preventable deaths.

What's next

Professor Kneil expressed hope that local and state governments would follow New Mexico's lead in warning against consumption of raw dairy products.

Read full article from source: BBC