California Regulators Close Raw Milk Probe Without Penalty After Two Children Develop Life-Threatening Kidney Disease

Key points

• Two children, Brooklyn Marris (17 months) and Victoria Galindo (6 years), were hospitalized with HUS after drinking raw goat milk from Moonlight Ridge in Riverside County.
• CDFA investigators found the farm owner, Courtney Baker, had sold unlabeled milk but concluded she could not be proven to have sold it for human consumption, citing a 'pet food' loophole.
• Regulators accepted a milk sample collected by Baker herself, which tested negative for E. coli, and closed the case on August 1, 2025, with no fines or jail time.
• Baker continued advertising the milk as 'clean and tested' on Facebook after learning the children were sick, despite admitting she had not tested for E. coli.
• The families have filed a civil lawsuit against Baker and the farm in Riverside County Superior Court, alleging negligent sale of contaminated milk.

Background

This incident follows a broader trend of raw milk-associated outbreaks across the U.S. In September 2026, San Diego County warned against raw cheese from Sierra Nevada Graziers due to a multi-state E. coli outbreak that sickened 13 people, including two children under five. These events highlight ongoing concerns about the safety of unpasteurized dairy products and the regulatory gaps that allow such products to reach consumers.

How outlets are covering it

ProPublica and CNN emphasize the failure of state regulators to act despite clear evidence that Baker knew the milk was intended for children, highlighting the 'pet food' loophole as a critical regulatory gap. Food Safety Magazine provides scientific context, noting that pasteurization significantly reduces microbiological risks and that raw milk offers no proven nutritional benefits over pasteurized alternatives. Marler Blog criticizes the CDFA's decision to accept a self-collected sample, arguing that a negative test weeks after the outbreak does not prove safety, and calls for stricter enforcement and mandatory pathogen testing for all raw milk sales. Medical Daily focuses on the medical severity of HUS and the lack of official confirmation linking the milk to the illnesses, while noting the high risk for young children.

Why it matters

The case exposes a significant gap in food safety enforcement where regulatory loopholes allow potentially dangerous products to remain on the market without consequence. It underscores the risks associated with raw milk consumption, particularly for vulnerable populations like young children, and raises questions about the effectiveness of current state-level oversight in preventing foodborne illnesses.

What to watch

The civil lawsuit filed by the Marris and Galindo families against Courtney Baker and Moonlight Ridge is ongoing in Riverside County Superior Court. Baker has stated the farm will fully defend against the allegations. Regulators have not indicated whether they will seek changes to the 'pet food' pathway or pursue stricter testing requirements for unlicensed raw milk sales.