In a significant health warning issued by California health officials, consumers are urged to refrain from consuming a specific lot of raw milk sourced from Fresno-based Raw Farm due to a positive detection of the bird flu virus. The California Department of Public Health has emphasized that ongoing testing and investigations are underway regarding the connection between the bird flu detections and the current spread of the virus, which has notably impacted dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases. Health authorities are strongly advising buyers to avoid any affected raw milk products while the investigation continues.
The California Department of Public Health made its official advisory public on Wednesday, stressing the risks associated with consuming raw milk that has potentially been contaminated. The department stated, “Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase.” Following the guidance from state health officials, Raw Farm has initiated a voluntary recall for the affected milk lot code number 20241119, which has a best before date set for December 7, 2024. This recall follows an earlier recall for products with lot ID 20241109, which faced similar issues with a best-by date of November 27.
Fortunately, officials have indicated that there have not yet been any reported cases of bird flu in humans directly linked to the consumption of this milk. Testing conducted by the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory discovered the bird flu virus in raw milk products sourced from local retail stores, occurring just a week after the virus was identified in a previous batch of Raw Farm’s raw milk. This incident underscores the potential dangers associated with consuming unpasteurized products, which can harbor various disease-causing pathogens.
Raw milk differs significantly from pasteurized milk, which is subjected to a heating process designed to eliminate harmful bacteria. In contrast, raw milk is not treated in this way, thus carrying a heightened risk of transmitting pathogens such as listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, and E. coli. Public health experts have long cautioned against the consumption of raw milk due to its association with serious health complications, including miscarriages, stillbirths, kidney failures, and in extreme cases, fatalities. Furthermore, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that there is no scientific basis for claims that raw milk provides health benefits or remedies for allergies, and its interstate sale is prohibited.
In response to the current situation, Raw Farm has stated that it rigorously tests its products for quality. Acknowledging the recent concerns, the company maintains that all tests conducted, both internally by Raw Farm and those executed by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), have returned negative results for the bird flu virus. Nonetheless, the CDFA has collected additional samples of milk products to ascertain the full scope of the issue after the virus was detected in two separate milk lots.
The concern is mounting as bird flu continues to be an issue with poultry and cattle across the United States. This outbreak has sparked renewed interest in raw milk, especially from certain advocates, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others, who have publicly endorsed its consumption despite health advisories.
In June 2023, the FDA intensified calling for public warnings about the risks associated with raw milk, especially in areas where dairy animals have tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu. Despite there being no confirmed instances of human-to-human spread of the virus, scientists remain vigilant about the potential for mutations that could facilitate such transmission.
In light of the ongoing outbreak, expert Dr. David Kessler has advocated for systematic bulk testing of dairy products in states with active infections to glean a better understanding of the virus’s prevalence among dairy herds. He raised alarms regarding the risk of mutations without mandatory testing regimes, which could complicate efforts to contain infections.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data indicates there have already been 55 confirmed human cases of bird flu in 2024, including 29 in California, predominantly linked to farm workers in contact with infected animals. Recently, a child was reported as the first U.S. case of bird flu, further highlighting the urgency of the ongoing investigation.
Bird flu symptoms in humans are similar to typical flu symptoms, with signs including eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, cough, and other common ailments. Californians who may have consumed the affected raw milk products and experience these symptoms are advised to seek immediate medical attention and report their condition to local health authorities.