Health officials in New Mexico have confirmed that a newborn baby died from a listeria infection that was likely linked to the mother’s consumption of unpasteurized (raw) milk during pregnancy.

State authorities issued a public warning this week urging residents to avoid raw dairy products following the death. Officials said the investigation could not establish the exact cause of the infant’s infection, but evidence strongly suggested exposure through unpasteurized milk consumed by the mother while pregnant.

Due to privacy restrictions, officials released limited details about the newborn. However, an official involved in the investigation said conclusions were based on multiple factors, including the timing of the infection and confirmation that the mother drank raw milk during pregnancy.

Listeria is a harmful bacterium that can be present in raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products. While adults may experience mild or no symptoms, the infection poses serious risks during pregnancy, including miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, and severe or fatal infections in newborns.

Health officials noted that pasteurization the process of heating milk to kill harmful bacteria significantly reduces the risk of listeria and other infections. In addition to listeria, raw milk can carry pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter, brucella, tuberculosis bacteria, cryptosporidium, and avian influenza, many of which are particularly dangerous for infants, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems.

The warning comes amid a growing interest in raw milk across parts of the United States, driven in part by social media advocacy and broader movements promoting “natural” or minimally processed foods.

State health authorities continue to advise pregnant women, children, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals to avoid unpasteurized dairy products entirely, stressing that pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the associated health risks.

Source: APNews