Fri Dec 13 00:46:59 UTC 2024: ## Bird Flu Detected in Raw Milk Prompts Urgent Warnings and Recall
**Sacramento, CA** – Federal and state health officials are issuing urgent warnings about the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus in raw milk, following a voluntary recall of Raw Farm LLC products in California. While pasteurized milk remains safe, officials emphasize the significant risks associated with consuming raw, unpasteurized milk.
The H5N1 virus, previously detected in dead form in pasteurized milk due to the heat treatment of pasteurization, has now been found in live form within raw milk samples from Raw Farm. This led California public health officials to issue a voluntary recall. Raw Farm CEO Mark McAfee disputes the necessity of the recall, claiming it’s an attack on the legal raw milk industry.
However, experts strongly counter this, citing numerous cases of illness linked to Raw Farm’s raw milk products in recent years, including over 100 salmonella cases in 2023 and 2024 resulting in hospitalizations. Furthermore, research reveals that bird flu virus traces are highest in the mammary glands and milk of infected cows, long before symptoms appear in the animals. Barn cats on infected farms have reportedly died from consuming contaminated raw milk.
While human cases of bird flu linked to dairy farms have been relatively mild so far, largely affecting workers through direct contact with infected animals or raw milk, experts warn of the potential for the virus to mutate and become more easily transmissible or severe. A recent study demonstrated that a single mutation could significantly enhance human-to-human transmission.
Dr. John Lucey, director of the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Dairy Research, points out the lack of scientific evidence supporting claims of health benefits associated with raw milk. He emphasizes that raw milk contains numerous bacteria and viruses that can cause severe illness, particularly in vulnerable populations like infants, the elderly, and pregnant women. The FDA also highlights that while raw milk may contain bacteria, not all bacteria are beneficial probiotics.
Pasteurization, a process that kills pathogens through heat, is highly effective against the H5N1 virus. Before widespread pasteurization, dairy products were a significant source of foodborne illness. Currently, several states ban the sale of raw milk altogether, and federal regulations prohibit interstate sales.
The increased focus on raw milk safety is amplified by the public support of raw milk by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., whose endorsement has fueled demand and supply concerns. While McAfee claims Kennedy’s transition team contacted him about a potential FDA advisory role, the Trump transition team denies any such communication.
Health officials urge consumers to choose pasteurized milk and dairy products to avoid the risks associated with raw milk consumption. The ongoing bird flu situation underscores the critical importance of safe food handling practices and the established benefits of pasteurization.
First Piper 