Experts warn against drinking raw milk after New Mexico baby's listeria death
Source by : BBC News hub
06 Feb 2026, 02:78 AM
Experts warn against drinking raw milk after New Mexico baby's listeria death
Health experts are warning against the trend of consuming raw, unpasteurised milk after a newborn baby died from a listeria infection in New Mexico.
Experts believe the infection was likely contracted when the infant's mother drank raw milk during her pregnancy.
Consumption of raw milk has seen a resurgence in recent months after its benefits were promoted as "liquid gold" by some influencers on social media and by some members of the Make America Healthy Again or MAHA movement.
But experts warn that the uncertain benefits of raw milk consumption do not outweigh the known risks, and there is no guarantee "that raw milk is clear of pathogens".
Pathogens, including bird flu, brucella, tuberculosis, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium and E. coli can also be found in raw milk, the New Mexico health department warned.
Raw milk comes straight from the cow and is not pasteurised.
The pasteurisation process gently heats milk for a short period to remove some bacteria, including Listeria, which is particularly dangerous for newborns because it can cross the placental barrier. Neonatal listeria has a 20-30% mortality rate.
Officials did not point to the exact source of the listeria that caused the New Mexico baby's death. But a statement noted "the tragic death underscores the serious risks raw dairy poses to pregnant women, young children, elderly New Mexicans and anyone with a weakened immune system".
The notice is leading health experts like Kali Kneil, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, to caution against the drink.
"Even if it's a clean dairy, or the animals look healthy, you cannot guarantee that raw milk is clear of pathogens," she told the BBC.
Kneil said the increased popularity of raw milk could, in part, be the result of some European studies that suggested its consumption helped with asthma and allergies.
The strong desire to reduce illness and find better nutrition, particularly in the wake of Covid, has led people to turn to some unsafe behaviours, she said.
"Science has shown we are not losing the nutritional value during the pasteurisation process, definitely not to outweigh the risks," Kneil said.
The newborn's death also comes amid a famous influencer's company, Ballerina Farm, pausing its store's sale of raw milk after routine testing turned up health violations.
Ballerina Farm, owned by Hannah and Daniel Neeleman, sells frozen meat products, pantry products, kitchenware and raw milk. Its social media accounts have more than 10 million followers.
"Liquid gold. The children and I are mad fresh milk drinkers," Hannah Neeleman said on Instagram, adding that she and her children drank directly from the cow.
She has also credited raw milk as beneficial to her skin.
The BBC has contacted Ballerina farm for comment.
Last week, KPCW an NPR affiliate in Utah, reported that health inspectors from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food found two health violations during milk testing in the summer 2025. The pause of raw milk sales was announced after.
It is not just on social media; raw milk also remains popular in some political circles.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr previously classified himself as a raw milk fan.
And followers of the MAHA movement have urged Kennedy to legalise raw milk sales and stop penalising unlicensed raw milk producers.
But experts like Kneil are warning against that.
"We need to try to protect everybody so it doesn't happen again," she said, referencing the newborn baby's death.
Kneil said she hoped local and state governments followed New Mexico's lead in warning against consumption of raw dairy products.
"It's what we need to say."
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