Raw Milk in California Detected with Bird Flu Prompts New Warning

November 29, 2024 TruthUSA

State officials are strongly advising consumers to avoid consuming any of the affected raw milk.

In California, health officials issued a new warning following the discovery of bird flu contamination in another batch of unpasteurized milk.

The bird flu virus was identified in a second retail sample of “cream top” whole raw milk from Raw Farm LLC, according to a notice from the California Department of Public Health on Wednesday. The contaminated product comes from lot code 20241119 with a best-by date of Dec. 7.

Raw Farm, located in Fresno County, has voluntarily recalled the affected lot at the state’s request. This comes after a previous recall of raw milk products from the same lot code but with a different best-by date of Nov. 27.

The detection of bird flu in the milk was made during testing by the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory, which routinely examines raw milk from retail stores across the county as an added measure of consumer protection.

While no illnesses linked to Raw Farm’s products have been reported so far, the health department is recommending that individuals discontinue using the affected raw milk and return any remaining product to the store of purchase.

The release emphasizes that consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk as the state continues to investigate the connection between bird flu in retail raw milk and the overall spread of the virus.

Pasteurized milk remains a safe option for consumption, as pasteurization eliminates the bird flu virus along with harmful bacteria like E. coli, listeria, and salmonella that can cause illness.

The warning was issued following the confirmation by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of a child testing positive for bird flu in Alameda County, California. To date, California has reported 29 human cases of bird flu, more than half of the 55 cases recorded nationwide this year.

Bird flu, also known as Type A H5N1 influenza, was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March and has since spread extensively. California has experienced a significant impact, with over 435 dairy herds affected, surpassing other states. Milk from infected cows has shown high levels of the virus in testing.

Surveys conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in May revealed that approximately 20 percent of pasteurized milk samples contained viral remnants of the bird flu virus. However, none of the 297 samples from 132 processing sites in 38 states contained live infectious viruses.

There is currently no evidence of individuals contracting the bird flu virus from consuming raw milk. While 55 people in the United States have been infected this year, the majority were dairy or poultry workers who experienced mild illness after close contact with infected animals.

A 2022 study by the FDA indicated that about 4.4 percent of U.S. adults, equivalent to around 11 million individuals, reported consuming raw milk annually, with 1 percent consuming it weekly. Reasons cited for choosing unpasteurized dairy included health benefits, taste preferences, and support for local farmers.

Notable advocates for raw milk include Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who exclusively drinks raw milk and has expressed criticism towards regulations limiting access to it. Kennedy, set to assume a key health role in the second Trump administration, has vowed to expand the distribution of raw milk nationwide.

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