It has been reported that Bird flu has been detected in a collection of raw milk sold in California stores and the state’s Department of Public Health expressed on Sunday that the public should not drink it.
It was noted that the virus was found in the products when testing was carried out on the cream top whole raw milk from Raw Farm, LLC. After the virus was discovered the company issued a voluntary recall of the product and the batch. The product has a Best By date of Nov. 27, at the state’s request.
It was disclosed that no one has become sick nor contracted the disease from this lot of raw milk, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) noted. However, it said in a news release that out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk.
It was noted that unlike most milk sold in stores, raw milk has not been pasteurized, a process that includes heating to a high temperature to kill harmful germs and viruses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has disclosed that Public health officials have indicated that consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations, and it’s encouraged to consume milk or dairy products that are pasteurized, as the process has greatly reduced milk-borne illnesses since the early 1900s.
CDPH stated that the outbreaks were due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin-producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria that have all been reported related to consuming raw dairy products.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who president-elect Donald Trump has selected to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is a fan of raw milk. Last month on X he has spoken against the Food and Drug Administration’s aggressive suppression of it. Actor and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow also said in a podcast earlier this year that she drinks raw cream in her coffee every morning from Raw Farm, the same brand behind the recall.
The press release stated that the Virus was detected by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory in one sample of raw milk purchased from a retail store. Such testing has been done by the lab “as a second line of consumer protection. It was further confirmed that the testing was later confirmed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System which stated that the initial result was true.
It has been further stated that after the testing had come out positive, the California Department of Food and Agriculture conducted testing at Raw Farm LLC’s two locations, which further produced negative results for the virus but it was stated that the CDFA will test for bird flu at raw milk banks twice per week which will be a further confirm the status of the farm
Raw Farm, based in Fresno County, has further noted that the products have been placed on voluntary recall of lot ID #20241109 on Sunday. The recall was stated in a statement by the company. It was noted that all the tests that were conducted by AW FARM and all of the official tests by CDFA (the California State agency that regulates and tests Raw Farm products) have been NEGATIVE. It was also reported that no illness has been reported through the incident.
Efforts have been made to hear from Raw Farms by journalists regarding the incident.
The CDPH stated that drinking or inhaling raw milk with bird flu virus may lead to illness. Further, touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.
The result of the flu has been reported after California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu since early October, primarily stemming from cows, according to CDPH. Of those cases, 28 had direct contact with infected cows, all cases had mild symptoms that were primarily eye infections, and none required hospitalization.
The authorities have further confirmed that there have been no person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S,
