New Mexico Health Officials Warn Pregnant Women After Newborn Dies From Listeria
Health officials in New Mexico have confirmed the death of a newborn linked to a listeria infection, raising fresh concerns about the dangers of consuming unpasteurized, or raw, milk during pregnancy.
According to a statement released by the New Mexico Department of Health, investigators believe the baby’s mother consumed raw milk while pregnant, which may have exposed the unborn child to the deadly bacteria. While officials have not been able to identify the exact source of the infection, they emphasized that the case highlights the serious health risks associated with raw dairy products.
“The tragic death underscores the serious risks raw dairy poses to pregnant women, young children, elderly residents, and individuals with weakened immune systems,” the department said.
Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist with the New Mexico Department of Health, urged pregnant women to avoid raw milk entirely. He stressed that only pasteurized milk should be consumed during pregnancy to prevent severe illness or death in newborns. Pasteurization involves heating milk to kill harmful bacteria before it reaches consumers.
Listeria is a dangerous bacterium commonly found in unpasteurized milk and dairy products. Health officials warn that exposure during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or life-threatening infections in newborns. The bacteria can also cause severe illness or death in people with compromised immune systems.
In addition to listeria, raw milk may carry other harmful pathogens, including bird flu, brucella, tuberculosis, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium, and E. coli, according to state health authorities.
Federal health agencies have consistently warned against drinking raw milk for decades. The sale of raw milk across state lines has been illegal since 1987 due to public health concerns. Despite these warnings, raw milk has grown in popularity in recent years.
Before joining the second Trump administration, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly expressed support for unpasteurized dairy products. However, since taking office, he has largely avoided addressing the issue, even as advocates continue to push for changes to federal raw milk regulations.
While the administration recently launched a campaign promoting whole milk consumption, raw milk was notably excluded. Still, some supporters of raw dairy say recent policy discussions have encouraged them.
In September, the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” report proposed removing barriers for small dairy farmers to sell their own milk. At the time, Nestlé described the move as a “big win” for companies selling whole or raw milk products.
Health officials continue to urge consumers, especially pregnant women, to choose pasteurized dairy products to protect themselves and their families from preventable and potentially fatal infections.
