Toddler vomitted blue-green bile, nearly died from controversial drink

Key Points:

• Seventeen-month-old Brooklyn Marris in California was hospitalized with severe illness caused by a dangerous strain of E. coli after consuming raw (unpasteurized) goat’s milk given to her for six months to relieve constipation.
• Brooklyn developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, requiring ventilator support and dialysis for kidney failure, and suffered long-term health consequences including a limp and potential lifelong kidney issues.
• Her mother, Emily Marris, who initially sought natural alternatives due to concerns about formula and cow’s milk, now regrets giving Brooklyn raw milk and warns others against its dangers.
• Raw milk consumption is increasing in the U.S., but experts emphasize it carries significant risks of contamination with pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, which can cause serious illness, especially in children and vulnerable populations.
• The raw milk involved was sold by an unlicensed farm in California that labeled it as pet food; following Brooklyn’s illness and a similar case involving another child, lawsuits have been filed against the farm for allegedly selling contaminated milk unfit for human consumption.