Health

New Mexico newborn dies from Listeria infection after mother drank raw milk while pregnant: state officials

Published

5 months ago

February 5, 2026

New Mexico newborn dies from Listeria infection after mother drank raw milk while pregnant: state officials

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A newborn baby in New Mexico died from a Listeria infection likely tied to the mother drinking raw milk while pregnant, according to state health officials.

The New Mexico Department of Health issued a warning Tuesday urging people to avoid consuming raw dairy products following the newborn’s death. Health officials believe the “most likely” source of infection was the mother drinking unpasteurized milk during pregnancy.

While investigators said they could not determine the exact cause, they said 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.”

Raw milk has seen a surge in popularity amid the Make America Healthy Again movement led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

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Health officials say a New Mexico newborn died from a Listeria infection likely linked to the mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy. (iStock)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a regulation decades ago prohibiting the interstate sale of raw milk, but the drink is not federally banned, leaving individual states to decide whether it’s safe for human consumption.

“Individuals who are pregnant should only consume pasteurized milk products to help prevent illnesses and deaths in newborns,” Dr. Chad Smelser, deputy state epidemiologist for the New Mexico Department of Health said in a statement.

Raw milk has not been pasteurized — a process that heats milk to remove disease-causing germs.

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A New Mexico newborn’s death has been linked by health officials to a Listeria infection tied to raw milk consumption. (iStock)

Consuming food or beverages made from raw milk can expose people to Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, E. coli, Listeria, Brucella and Salmonella, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Listeria is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., infecting about 1,250 people and causing roughly 172 deaths each year, according to the CDC.

The CDC notes that certain groups of people, including children under the age of 5, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems, have a higher risk of serious illness.

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New Mexico health officials are warning against consuming raw dairy products after a newborn died from a Listeria infection. (iStock)

“New Mexico’s dairy producers work hard to provide safe, wholesome products and pasteurization is a vital part of that process,” Jeff M. Witte, New Mexico secretary of agriculture, said in a statement. “Consumers, particularly those at higher risk, are encouraged to choose pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of serious foodborne illness.”

Last August, an outbreak of E. coli and Campylobacter linked to raw milk from a Florida farm sickened 21 people, including six children.

Related Topics:children's health Featured food foodborne illness

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Health

This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Over 40 Lose Twice as Much Fat

Published

9 hours ago

June 27, 2026

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This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Over 40 Lose Twice as Much Fat

This Protein Smoothie Trick Helps Women Lose Twice as Much Fat

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Health

These leafy greens could help protect your lungs, study suggests

Published

9 hours ago

June 27, 2026

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These leafy greens could help protect your lungs, study suggests

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Scientists have linked eating leafy green vegetables such as spinach, kale and broccoli to better lung health.

There are two primary forms of vitamin K found in foods. The primary kind is vitamin K1, found mainly in vegetables, which plays a major role in the body’s blood-clotting process.

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Vitamin K2 is found in fermented foods, certain dairy products, eggs and meats and helps regulate calcium in the body and supports bone health.

Researchers at Australia’s Edith Cowan University examined whether dietary intake of vitamins K1 and K2 was associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung function.

Leafy green vegetables are high in vitamin K1, a nutrient that researchers have observed conributes to improved lung health. (iStock)

“Chronic respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, are among the most prevalent noncommunicable diseases worldwide and were the third leading cause of death in 2019, accounting for 4 million deaths and affecting 454.6 million individuals globally,” the scientists reported in the introduction to their study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

“Although asthma and COPD can be managed with available treatments, neither condition is curable, underscoring the need for effective prevention strategies,” they added.

The leading cause of COPD is smoking, the Mayo Clinic reported. Exposure to other irritants, such as dust, chemicals and pollution, can also cause it.

The researchers analyzed data from 179,062 participants over a 10-and-a-half-year period and concluded that, “Higher dietary vitamin K1 intake was associated with better lung function and a lower rate of COPD.”

Researchers found that people who increased their vitamin K1 intake were less likely to develop COPD. (iStock)

Participants who consumed the most vitamin K1 had a 16% lower likelihood of COPD, the researchers observed. The effects were more pronounced in smokers and participants with high-risk occupations.

Consumption of vitamin K2 did not result in lower COPD rates.

“No association was observed for vitamin K1 or vitamin K2 intakes and asthma,” the researchers also wrote.

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Associate Professor Marc Sim, who was involved in the study, said that it’s likely Vitamin K activates a protein that may help keep lung tissue flexible and prevent damage.

Because the study was observational, it cannot prove that vitamin K1 directly reduces COPD risk, only that higher intake was associated with better lung health.

Researchers have associated higher consumption of leafy green vegetables with better lung function. (iStock)

Just one extra serving of leafy greens “is an achievable way to boost your vitamin K1 intake,” said Chengfeng Li, one of the study’s researchers.

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Other foods rich in vitamin K1 include collard greens, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts and turnip greens.

Teresa Mull is a freelance writer with the Lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.