Full Breakdown
Toddler’s Near-Fatal Illness Tied to Raw Goat’s Milk
By Drooid · · How we work
Illness and Hospital Care
In the summer, 17-month-old Brooklyn Marris began vomiting yellow-green then blue-green bile after receiving raw goat’s milk for six months to treat constipation. She was taken to a children’s hospital 70 miles away, placed on a ventilator, and required dialysis when doctors diagnosed a severe E. coli infection. The infection progressed to hemolytic uremic syndrome, causing blood-vessel damage, multiple cardiac arrests, and long-term kidney concerns. Brooklyn eventually recovered but now walks with a limp and faces ongoing renal monitoring.
Raw Milk Risks and Study Findings
Raw, unpasteurized milk has been promoted in some online communities despite a lack of scientific evidence for nutritional benefits. A 2023 study found that 4.4 % of Americans reported drinking raw milk in the past year, with 1 % consuming it weekly. Researchers note that up to one-third of raw-milk samples contain pathogens, and consumers are about 100 times more likely to contract a food-borne illness from raw milk than from pasteurized milk. Dr. Uzma Syed, an infectious-disease specialist, emphasized that pasteurization was introduced over a century ago to curb illnesses that were “significant” before the process existed.
Regulatory Context and Farm Practices
California law permits only licensed farms to sell raw milk for human consumption; however, unlicensed farms may market it as pet food. The farm from which Emily Marris purchased the milk labeled the product for pets, a claim later disputed by state investigators. After Brooklyn’s illness, a six-year-old who drank milk from the same source also became seriously ill, prompting a state investigation.
Legal Action and Official Responses
Emily Marris and the family of the second child filed a lawsuit alleging negligent sale of contaminated raw milk presented as fit for human consumption. The farm’s representative, identified only as the owner, maintains that the milk was intended for pets and will “fully defend against the allegations,” according to a spokesperson for the plaintiffs’ attorney, Baker.
Implications for Parents and Public Health
Brooklyn’s case illustrates the potential severity of raw-milk-related infections, especially for infants and other vulnerable groups. Health experts warn that raw milk can harbor E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, and even avian influenza, underscoring the importance of pasteurization and regulated milk distribution to protect public health.
