New Mexico
New Mexico warns against consuming raw milk after newborn baby death
Florida mom claims bacteria from raw milk led to her miscarriage
A mother is suing a Volusia County dairy farm, saying bacteria from its raw milk caused her to miscarry and left her toddler seriously ill.
Fox – 35 Orlando
New Mexico health officials are warning the public to avoid consuming raw dairy products after a newborn baby died from a Listeria infection.
In a news release on Tuesday, Feb. 3, the New Mexico Department of Health said it believes the “most likely source of infection” was unpasteurized milk the baby’s mother consumed while she was pregnant. The state health department did not provide any additional information about the case.
Though investigators cannot identify the exact cause of the infection, the state health department 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.”
“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.
The consumption of raw milk and other unpasteurized dairy products can cause serious health risks and be especially dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The majority of commercial dairy products in the United States contain milk or cream that has been pasteurized, the FDA said. Pasteurization is a heat-treatment process in which milk is heated to a high enough temperature to destroy harmful bacteria and pathogens, according to health officials.
“Consumers, particularly those at higher risk, are encouraged to choose pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of serious foodborne illness,” Jeff Witte, the secretary of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture, said in a statement.
Risks of consuming raw milk
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized and can be a source of foodborne illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While contamination can be reduced, the CDC said there is no guaranteed protection from the harmful germs that could be found in raw milk.
Despite warnings from health experts, raw milk has seen a surge in popularity across the United States in recent years. The rising trend was driven by wellness influencers and raw milk advocates who believe that the pasteurization process destroys bioactives, which are chemicals found in plants and certain foods that promote good health.
Health experts have previously told USA TODAY that the nutritional changes that happen after pasteurization are “extremely minimal.” There are also misconceptions that bacteria content in raw milk is good for your gut, but those ideas are “far-fetched,” according to registered dietitian Jamie Nadeau.
Raw milk can contain “numerous disease-causing germs,” such as Listeria, the New Mexico Department of Health said. Listeria are bacteria that can contaminate many foods and pose a significant risk to pregnant women, newborn babies, adults 65 or older, and people with weakened immune systems, according to the CDC.
The New Mexico Department of Health noted that even if a mother is only mildly ill from an infection, Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, or a deadly infection in newborn babies. The state health department added that Listeria can also cause serious infections and sometimes death in those with compromised immune systems.
Consuming products with unpasteurized milk can also expose people to other pathogens, including avian influenza, Brucella, Tuberculosis, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, and E. coli. Some of these diseases are particularly dangerous for children under 5 and adults over 65, according to the state health department.
“Pasteurized milk offers the same nutritional benefits without the risks of raw milk consumption,” the CDC said, adding that since the early 1900s, pasteurization has led to a drop in milk-borne illnesses.
Recent incidents involving raw milk consumption
Following the outbreak of bird flu and incidents in which people became sick or died, health officials across the country have repeatedly advised the public not to consume raw milk products.
In 2024, the CDC, FDA, and the Department of Agriculture urged the public not to consume raw milk or raw milk products after high levels of the H5N1 bird flu virus had been found in unpasteurized milk.
In August 2025, Florida health officials warned about the dangers of consuming unpasteurized milk after 21 people in the northeast and central parts of the state drank raw milk from the same farm and fell ill. At the time, state health officials said the 21 patients included six children under the age of 10, and at least two suffered “severe complications.”
That same month, a central Florida woman filed a lawsuit against a dairy farm and grocery store for allegedly selling raw milk that caused both her and her toddler to be hospitalized, and led to the death of her unborn baby.
Contributing: Alyssa Goldberg and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY
GALLUP, NEW MEXICO – AUGUST 13: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Dancers prepare to enter the contest powwow at the 100th Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial at Red Rock Park on August 13, 2022 near Gallup, New Mexico. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Getty Images
Historic Route 66 celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2026. While the so-called “Mother Road” defined classic Americana–tourist kitsch, neon signs, roadside motels–most of its mid-century fame has faded into memory.
Along a sun-drenched, 150-mile stretch of Route 66 between Albuquerque and the New Mexico-Arizona state line, however, thousand-year-old traditions remain vibrant. The Pueblo of Isleta. The Pueblo of Sandia. The Pueblo of Laguna. The Pueblo of Zuni. The Navajo Nation. The otherworldly Acoma Pueblo: Sky City.
Route 66 through western New Mexico offers a concentrated look at historic and contemporary Native America. See for yourself the highs and lows. Breathtaking cultural heritage. Astonishing artwork. Colonization’s heartbreaking legacy. Glitzy casino/resorts. Poverty.
Albuquerque
The corner of 4th Street and Central Avenue in downtown Albuquerque doesn’t seem exceptional. Look at the stoplights. Each one–all four–features the Historic Route 66 road sign. At this intersection, Route 66 intersects with itself.
This is the only place along its nearly 2500-mile stretch where it does that. The oddity is owed to political butt hurt.
The original 1926 path of Route 66 swung sharply northward at Santa Rosa in eastern New Mexico to include the state’s capital of Santa Fe before traversing back south to Albuquerque and then west toward Arizona. When Governor Arthur T. Hannett lost his re-election bid in 1927 to a candidate backed by the powerful Santa Fe political machine, he ordered a new highway constructed–a new Route 66–that would bypass Santa Fe and run straight from Santa Rosa to Albuquerque.
Upon completion of the new section in 1938, Santa Fe–and Hannett’s political enemies–were cut off from the economic engine of Route 66.
Begin your exploration of Native America along Route 66 in Albuquerque at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Here, an introduction to the 19 Pueblos in present-day New Mexico is made through artwork, food, and dance. Admire the IPCC’s remarkable courtyard murals and special exhibitions. Most days, and particularly on weekends, Pueblo artists sell their work direct to visitors around the courtyard which hosts dance groups from the Pueblos every Saturday and Sunday. This is the only place in North America where Native American dances are performed every weekend. Be sure to see one.
IPCC also houses a fantastic Indian Pueblo Store selling museum-quality pottery, jewelry, and textiles, each treasure complete with a certificate of authenticity. The superfood blue corn griddle cakes at the on-site Indian Pueblo Kitchen are worth a visit themselves.
Petroglyph National Monument in Albuquerque protects one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America. The ancestors of today’s Pueblo people carved these images. While the Rio Grande Valley here has been inhabited by Indigenous people going back 10,000 years, most of the petroglyphs were etched between 1300 and 1650.
As with any outdoor activity in New Mexico, prepare for a harsh sun, alternately scorching heat or freezing cold depending on the season–this is desert–and potential dehydration. Albuquerque sits at 5,300 feet elevation and the combination of that elevation, the heat, and the dry desert air can take a toll on newbies.
The Pueblo of Sandia gets all the love in ABQ. Sandia Mountain, the aerial tramway to the peak, the fancy resort and casino, but don’t sleep on little Pueblo of Isleta south of town. Isleta has a spiffy resort and casino as well, but it’s Yonan Cultural Center is the gem here with a fantastic photography archive and two short films, one from 1898, the first moving images taken in New Mexico. Isleta also maintains one of the most well-preserved Catholic churches–a remnant of Spanish colonialism–and plazas among all the Pueblos.
Back in town, the Albuquerque Museum presents an excellent special exhibition related to Route 66’s centennial through January 3, 2027. The focus is Petroliana and car culture, not Native America, but it provides good context. Admission is free Sundays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
Take a cruise up Central Ave.–Route 66–before leaving. Admire the modestly sized, historic Native murals at 510 Central Ave., and Nani Chacon’s building-filling pottery lowrider three blocks away at the Arrive hotel.
Native Art Galleries In Albuquerque:
(A partial list)
Gallery Hózhó
Arrowsoul Trading Post
Allen Aragon Gallery
Penfeld Gallery
Gertrude Zachary jewelry
ABQ Eats:
Sadie’s
El Pinto
Tiny Grocer ABQ
Curious Toast Cafe
Barelas Coffee House
Church Street Café
Downtown Saturday Growers’ Market
World Famous Laguna Burger
The San Jose de la Laguna Mission, built in 1706, overlooks the Laguna Pueblo. (Photo by Steven Clevenger/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images
Interstate 40 has subsumed what was once Route 66 across stretches of New Mexico. The “Mother Road” was decommissioned in 1984. Progress.
Forty-five miles west of Albuquerque at Exit 114 along I-40 find the Pit Stop convenience store and world famous Laguna Burger. Burgers became part of feast day celebrations at the Pueblo of Laguna in the mid-20th century. Their popularity grew. In 2005, the Pueblo began sharing its green chile cheeseburger with the world.
Today, multiple Laguna Burger locations can be found around the state–including across the street from the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center–but a visit to the Pit Stop location at Exit 114 is worth your while. As is taking Route 66 through the village of Laguna.
The story of Native America is not so easy here. Houses surrounding the hilltop Mission Church a couple minutes’ drive from Laguna Burger have seen better days. The community persists; prosper lies in the eye of the beholder. All the more reason to see for yourself. Travel as witness. Native America beyond the Vegas-style casinos and chic cultural centers.
Look at the cars. Look at the homes. Look at the roads. Look at the schools. Think about it. Pull off the side of the road and think about it.
Ask before taking photos or videos. At all the Pueblos. Error on the side of not. The Pueblo and the people are not living history props. Here’s a handy guide to Pueblo etiquette.
September is a big month for feast days at Laguna with the 19th being the largest event.
Gallup And The Navajo Nation
WINDOW ROCK, AZ – MARCH 18, 2017: A bronze statue of a Navajo ‘code talker’ stands in front of the ‘window’ eroded from a sandstone formation at Window Rock, Arizona. The small Arizona city, named after the natural landmark, serves as the seat of government and capital of the Navajo Nation. It is home of the Navajo Nation Code Talker World War II Memorial which honors the Navajo soldiers who used their native language during the war to send messages which could not be understood by the enemy. (Photo by Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
Getty Images
From Laguna, make the 90-mile trip west to Gallup skipping by the Pueblo of Acoma for now. Continuing to follow Route 66 has its own rewards, but using the interstate cuts driving time in half.
Gallup represents the most Route 66 town among all the Route 66 towns in New Mexico. Six thousand tourist cars per day used to stream through Albuquerque and Gallup at the “Mother Road’s” 50s and 60s peak. Not anymore. Not after I-40. The flood of tourists and tourist dollars has slowed to a trickle. Abandoned storefronts in Gallup equal those occupied.
Gallup can be hard to get your head around. Not only the businesses that have gone out of business–motels advertising color TV as an amenity–but those that remain operating, primary among them, the trading posts. Gallup is famous for trading posts.
Trading posts continue a system born out of the horrific Navajo livestock reduction program. Navajo people had their sheep–their food supply and source of income–slaughtered by the federal government. No good reason. Settler colonialism. As a result, the Navajo became economically dependent upon government subsidies. The subsidies, naturally, operated through white traders.
Navajo people purchased goods from traders on store credit or in trade for items they made. The relationship was exploitative from the start. Trading posts have become more equitable over time, but hardly equitable in all circumstances.
Gallup remains the epicenter of trading posts for tourists traveling along Route 66 looking to pick up a Native American souvenir. The caliber of those items ranges from counterfeit to museum-quality. How to know the difference?
Whether you’re purchasing pottery, Katsinas, fetishes, jewelry, paintings, even textiles, authentic, high quality Native American art being sold in a retail location should have an artist’s name attached to it. Not “authentic Indian art.” Not “Native made.” Remember the store at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center; every piece had an artist’s name and tribal affiliation connected to it.
Also, remember the store display at IPCC. Respectful to the objects. It looks like a Tiffany’s. If you walk into a trading post in Gallup and see thousands of objects crammed together on shelves like a going out of business sale at the Dollar Tree, then you’re buying Dollar Tree caliber tchotchkes. Curios. Trinkets. The Route 66 version of a snow globe.
If a trading post primarily uses discounts to sell merchandise, keep moving.
With pottery, if there are dozens of objects of the exact same size and shape, or multiple sizes of the same form, that pottery is most likely molded and kiln fired, not hand coiled and wood fired; you want the latter if you’re looking for a treasure. The molded pieces are often hand painted by Native artists, technically/legally rendering them “Native art,” but it’s shady. Note that Native artists do sell molded pottery as well.
If all you want is a souvenir, whatever; if you’re looking for heirloom quality Native American fine art you can cherish in your home for decades, be careful. Error on the side of caution. More knowledgeable shoppers than you have been fooled.
Purchasing turquoise jewelry can be tricky as well.
If the price seems too good to be true, it’s fishy. Again, remember pricing at IPCC to gauge. There are a thousand good places in New Mexico to purchase authentic Native American art of the highest quality–including numerous opportunities to do so direct from the artist–and you can do that in Gallup, but be careful.
Recommended Native American Art Retailers In Gallup:
(A partial list)
Silver Dust Trading
Zuni Fetishes Direct
Yazzi’s Indian Art
Direct from artists during annual Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.
Gallup Eats:
Jerry’s Café (406 W Coal Ave, Gallup, NM 87301; no website)
Stop for anyone selling tamales or burritos along the road or from their house. Have cash.
Navajo Code Talkers
Navajo Code Talkers mural in Gallup, NM.
Chadd Scott
When the Navajo Code Talkers left their homeland bound for Japan and the essential communications work they performed in World War II, they departed from the train station in Gallup. The free Gallup Cultural Center next to the train station provides an excellent introduction to the Code Talkers as well as Navajo sand painting. Find the Code Talkers mural a couple blocks away.
Gallup’s Works Progress Administration courthouse is a wonder with spectacular–and mysterious–examples of Depression-era Native art. Take a tour if you’re able.
A thirty-minute drive north from Route 66 takes road trippers to Window Rock, AZ, capital of the Navajo Nation. Go there. See Window Rock. Visit the Navajo Nation Museum. The Navajo count 300,000-plus members among the tribe, second most populous in the United States behind only the Cherokee.
Pueblo of Zuni
Forty miles south of Route 66 from Gallup sits the Pueblo of Zuni. The Zuni have a stronger tourism infrastructure than most Pueblos with a visitor and arts center, tours, restaurants, shops, accommodations, and public feast days and celebrations.
Opportunities to purchase artwork directly from the makers abound. Look up Raylan and Patty Edaakie for A++ jewelry.
Acoma Pueblo: Sky City
The most alluringly named visitor destination in America belongs to Acoma Pueblo: Sky City. Hearing it described seems like something out of a dream. A village continuously inhabited since roughly 1100 AD–the oldest continuously inhabited community in the United States–perched 360 feet atop a mesa with commanding views of the surrounding valley.
Acoma’s reality equals the fantasy of its moniker.
Begin your exploration at the exceptional visitor center and museum where most days artists will be selling their work direct to visitors. Guests can only access Sky City by taking a tour. Tours run hourly, 9:30 AM until 3:30 PM, seven days a week.
Tours visit the mesa-top Catholic church. The Acoma people were enslaved to construct the building. The violence of European colonization across the North American continent may have achieved a grisly apex at Acoma when, following a siege by Spanish conquistadors in 1595, a massacre occurred killing hundreds. Male survivors of the slaughter over age 25 had their right foot cut off. Women and children were enslaved. The Acoma Massacre.
Acoma eventually merged the Catholicism forced upon it with its traditional spirituality–as many Pueblos have–and today, Christmastime is a major celebration. The Pueblo is closed to visitors on Christmas Day, but on Christmas Eve, one of the most remarkable sights you will ever witness has a thousand luminarias lining the road to Sky City.
Acoma’s annual schedule of closures and public events can be found here.
The Pueblo operates Sky City Casino Hotel 60 miles west of Albuquerque just off the interstate. The interstate that rendered Route 66 mostly obsolete after only 60 years. Sixty years in America can seem like a long time. Not in Native America, where time is measured by seven generations and thousands of years.
Route 66 through western New Mexico represents a remnant of a bygone American past, and more importantly, a passageway through Native America’s dynamic present.
More From Forbes
New Mexico
Taos husband seeks restraining order against private investigator after wife’s remains found
A Taos man asked for a restraining order against a private investigator after his missing wife’s remains were found in Carson National Forest.
TAOS, N.M. – A Taos man asked for a restraining order against a private investigator after his missing wife’s remains were found in Carson National Forest.
Melissa Casias’ remains were found last month in Carson National Forest, about a year after she went missing.
Her husband, Amrk Casias, said in court records that private investigator Thomas McNally accused him of murdering her.
According to court documents, Casias claimed McNally launched an “escalating campaign of public harassment, defamation, and criminal threats” against him and his daughters.
Casias also claimed McNally does not hold a valid New Mexico private investigator license.
A hearing on the restraining order request is set for next week.
Police have not charged Casias with wrongdoing in the case.
An autopsy is underway to determine how Melissa Casias died. Police also said they found a gun near her remains.
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