Bird Flu Found in California Raw Milk

Stores have pulled bottles of raw milk made by a Fresno County dairy from shelves after bird flu was detected in one of the batches.

Bird flu virus was detected in a retail sample of raw milk from the Raw Farm dairy of Fresno County, state health officials said Sunday, Nov. 24.

An infected sample was collected by Santa Clara County Public Health on Nov. 21. County officials have been testing raw milk products in retail stores “as a second line of consumer protection.”

On Nov. 22, the county contacted stores and asked them to remove the raw milk from shelves.

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The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System at the University of California Davis confirmed Santa Clara County’s findings on Nov. 23.

No illnesses associated with this lot of cream top raw milk have been reported, the California Department of Public Health said.

The company has recalled the product. Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of bird flu, consumers should not consume any of the affected milk, the department said in a press release. Consumers should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased.

The milk has lot code 20241109 with a Best By date of 11/27/2024 on the package, the department said.

The state says, “Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.”

Bird flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fever and other cold- and flu-like unpleasantness.

According to the California Department of Public Health, outbreaks of salmonella, listeria monocytogenes, toxin-producing E. coli, brucella, campylobacter and many other bacteria have all been reported as being related to consuming raw dairy products.

Health officials say raw milk products are not pasteurized, a heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as bird flu.

The state says, “Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.”

For more information about the national response to bird flu, visit https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/.