(NewsNation) — Health officials in New Mexico is advising residents to not drink raw milk after a newborn in the state died from a listeria infection.
The New Mexico Department of Health said in a news release on Tuesday that the newborn was likely infected due to the unpasteurized milk the newborn’s mother drank during her pregnancy. However, the department said an exact cause cannot be pinpointed.
According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm labor.
Public health officials said raw milk and unpasteurized dairy pose a risk to pregnant women, young children, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system.
Listeria infection is the third leading cause of death from foodborne illness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The health organization said about 1,250 people are infected with it each year, and 172 people die from it each year.
Jeff Witte, New Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, said state dairy providers “work hard to provide safe, wholesome products and pasteurization is a vital part of that process.”
“Consumers, particularly those at higher risk, are encouraged to choose pasteurized dairy products to reduce the risk of serious foodborne illness,” Witte said.
