Bird flu was detected in a batch of raw milk sold in California stores and the state’s public health department said Sunday the public should not drink it.
The virus was discovered during testing of a batch of raw whole cream milk from Raw Farm, LLC. The company issued a voluntary recall of the lot, with an expiration date of November 27, at the request of the state.
No one got sick or contracted illness from this batch of raw milk, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) noted. However, it said in a press release: “Out of an abundance of caution and due to the continued spread of avian influenza in dairy cows, poultry and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any affected raw milk. »
Unlike most milk sold in stores, raw milk has not been pasteurized, a process that involves heating to a high temperature to kill harmful germs and viruses.
Public health officials say consuming raw milk can cause serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations, and consuming pasteurized milk or dairy products is encouraged because this process has “significantly reduced “milk-borne diseases” since the early 1900s, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
“Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin-producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all been reported in connection with the consumption of raw dairy products,” CDPH said.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whom President-elect Donald Trump chose to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, is a fan of raw milk. Last month on X, he criticized the Food and Drug Administration’s “aggressive suppression.” Actress and wellness guru Gwyneth Paltrow also said in a podcast earlier this year that she drinks raw cream every morning in her coffee from Raw Farm, the same brand behind the recall.
The virus was detected during testing by the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory on a sample of raw milk purchased at a retail store. Such testing was conducted by the laboratory “as a second line of consumer protection,” the statement said. The tests were then verified by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.
Following the positive test, the California Department of Food and Agriculture conducted testing at both Raw Farm LLC locations, which returned negative results for the virus. The CDFA will conduct avian flu testing at raw milk banks twice a week.
Fresno County-based Raw Farm announced the voluntary recall of lot ID #20241109 on Sunday. In a brief statement, the company said: “All test results conducted by RAW FARM and all official testing conducted by CDFA (the California state agency that regulates and tests Raw Farm products) were NEGATIVE. No illnesses have been reported.
NBC News has contacted Raw Farm for comment.
The CDPH said drinking or inhaling raw milk containing the avian flu virus can lead to illness. Additionally, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk containing the bird flu virus can also lead to infection.
This comes as California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of avian flu since early October, mostly from cows, according to CDPH. Of these cases, 28 had direct contact with infected cows, all cases had mild symptoms, mainly eye infections, and none required hospitalization.
“No human-to-human spread of avian influenza has been detected in California or the United States,” the press release said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
