Temecula, California – The spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus through dairy cattle has prompted the US Food and Drug Administration to urge states to take additional measures to protect the public from the risks associated with raw milk consumption.
In an open letter posted on the agency’s website, the FDA emphasized the need for states to strengthen public warnings about the dangers of raw milk and to conduct testing on herds that produce it for sale. The agency also recommended that states utilize their regulatory powers to halt the sale of raw milk within infected areas or states where dairy herds have tested positive for the virus.
Minnesota recently became the 10th state to report infected herds, with a total of 82 herds in the US testing positive for the H5N1 virus, according to the US Department of Agriculture. Despite the FDA prohibiting the sale of raw milk across state lines, some states permit the sale of raw milk for human consumption within their borders, subject to varying requirements. Additionally, some states allow raw milk to be sold as pet food labeled “not for human consumption.”
Raw milk poses a significant risk of carrying high levels of the H5N1 bird flu virus, as cows appear to contract the virus through their udders. While it remains unclear whether individuals can contract bird flu from consuming contaminated milk, incidents have been reported involving cats on farms with infected cows and dairy workers exposed to raw milk who have become infected.
Dr. Don Prater, acting director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at the FDA, stressed the importance of minimizing exposure to the H5N1 virus for the health of both humans and animals. In addition to the threat of bird flu, the FDA highlighted other health risks associated with raw milk, including illness, miscarriages, stillbirths, kidney failure, and even death.
To address these risks, the FDA is calling on states to enhance monitoring of dairy cattle herds for signs of illness indicating H5N1 infection and to ensure the safe disposal of milk from sick cows. The agency also advises that any raw milk or raw milk products from exposed cattle fed to calves or other animals be heat-treated or pasteurized to prevent the spread of the virus.
Furthermore, the FDA is urging states to implement surveillance testing for the presence of the H5N1 virus in dairy herds engaged in raw milk production and to report their findings to state and federal regulatory authorities. New research and data on the presence of the bird flu virus in raw milk and related products are expected to be shared by the agency soon.