I realize now, however, that this particular case is a very sensitive subject, and I apologize if anyone thought I was trying to promote anyone deliberately spreading harmful information.

That said, this book isn't being banned or recalled by the government of New Zealand. From the sounds of the article you link to, the government of NZ went to the publisher and suggested they recall it due to incorrect content. And the publisher agreed. (And the publishers were smart to do so. Nothing quite like a mom with a dead Listeria baby to sue a publisher out of existence).

Anything that can be described as either faulty or toxic, is be definition, bad, as is any contaminated food. But deli meats and soft cheese do not, as a matter of course, contain listeria, so they are not automatically dangerous. And many other foods can also become contaminated, such as fruits and vegetables, which pregnant women are strongly encourage to eat.

As you point out, the amount of risk a person is willing to take with food is personal, if controversial. Couldn't they just have asked the authors of the book to acknowledge the risks of certain foods, and then left it to the reader to decide which recipes they are willing to make?