Health authorities are raising alarms over the rising trend of consuming raw, unpasteurised milk following the death of a newborn in New Mexico from a listeria infection.
Officials believe the infant likely contracted the infection because the mother drank raw milk during pregnancy.
BBC reported that the popularity of raw milk has surged recently after some social media influencers promoted it as “liquid gold,” and members of the Make America Healthy Again movement endorsed its consumption.
However, experts caution that any potential benefits of raw milk are uncertain and do not outweigh the known dangers.
The New Mexico Department of Health emphasized that there is no assurance “that raw milk is clear of pathogens.”
Pathogens such as bird flu, brucella, tuberculosis, salmonella, campylobacter, cryptosporidium, and E. coli can all be present in raw milk, officials warned.
Raw milk is milk taken directly from cows without undergoing pasteurisation. Pasteurisation gently heats milk for a short period to eliminate bacteria, including Listeria, which is especially dangerous for newborns as it can cross the placental barrier.
Neonatal listeria carries a 20-30% mortality rate.
Although authorities did not identify the exact source of the listeria that caused the newborn’s death, they stressed that “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.”
Kali Kneil, a professor of microbial food safety at the University of Delaware, also advised caution.
“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 explained that part of raw milk’s rising popularity may be due to European studies suggesting it could help with asthma and allergies.
She noted that the desire to improve health and nutrition, especially after Covid, has pushed people toward unsafe practices.
“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 coincides with a pause in raw milk sales by a popular influencer’s company, Ballerina Farm, after routine testing uncovered health violations.
Ballerina Farm, owned by Hannah and Daniel Neeleman, sells raw milk alongside frozen meat, pantry items, and kitchenware, and has over 10 million followers on social media.
“Liquid gold. The children and I are mad fresh milk drinkers,” Hannah Neeleman shared on Instagram, adding that she and her children drink milk directly from the cow. She has also credited raw milk with improving her skin.
Last week, KPCW, an NPR affiliate in Utah, reported that health inspectors from the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food found two violations during milk testing in summer 2025, prompting the pause in sales.
Raw milk is not only popular on social media; it also has supporters in political circles.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has described himself as a fan of raw milk, and MAHA movement followers have urged him to legalize its sale and protect unlicensed producers.
Despite this, experts like Kneil stress caution. “We need to try to protect everybody so it doesn’t happen again,” she said, referencing the newborn’s death.
She hopes that local and state authorities take cues from New Mexico in issuing warnings about raw dairy. “It’s what we need to say,” Kneil added.
