California health officials have issued a warning against consuming raw milk from Raw Farm LLC due to the detection of the bird flu virus in two separate retail samples. The affected lots were voluntarily recalled, and consumers are advised to return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. The California Department of Public Health emphasized that pasteurized milk remains safe to drink.
Raw milk, which is not pasteurized, poses serious health risks, including foodborne illnesses, due to the presence of harmful germs and viruses. Bird flu can be contracted through the consumption or contact with raw milk from infected cows. While 29 human cases of bird flu have been reported in the state, there has been no person-to-person spread and all cases have been mild, primarily causing eye infections.
Raw Farm LLC stated that all of their cows are healthy and do not show signs or symptoms of bird flu. The farm is working with scientific partners to address the issue and ensure the safety of their dairy products. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has placed a quarantine on affected herds, which will be lifted once the farms fully recover.
The nationwide outbreak of bird flu, which started in poultry in 2022, was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024. Cases of infected livestock herds have been reported in California and Utah. Public health officials continue to monitor and respond to the situation to prevent further spread of the virus.
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