California Expands Recall of Raw Milk After Detection of Bird Flu Virus
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Los Angeles, Dec 5 (NationPress) Public health officials in California have announced a wide-ranging, voluntary recall of all raw milk and cream products from a local dairy farm due to concerns about possible bird flu contamination.
The California Department of Public Health disclosed in a news release on Tuesday evening that the statewide recall encompasses all products from Raw Farm, LLC that remain on retail shelves.
Officials cautioned consumers against consuming any raw milk products sourced from the quarantined farm, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
This action followed two previous limited recalls of Raw Farm products after bird flu was initially detected in samples of raw milk produced by the Fresno-based farm on November 21.
According to officials, products from Raw Farm have tested positive for bird flu at both retail locations and dairy storage and bottling facilities in recent days.
The California Department of Public Health advised that customers should immediately return any remaining products to the place of purchase.
Additionally, health officials have urged consumers to refrain from consuming any products from Raw Farm intended for human consumption, including raw milk, cream, cheese, and kefir, as well as raw milk pet food topper and pet food kefir marketed to pet owners.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture has placed the farm under quarantine, halting any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter, and cheese products made after November 27.
Public health experts have long cautioned against the consumption of raw milk or raw milk products due to heightened risks of foodborne illnesses. The California Department of Public Health noted in its news release that no human cases of bird flu related to the product have been confirmed to date, and the state is collaborating closely with federal and local partners to investigate the matter and understand its potential impact on consumers.
"California continues to monitor and respond to bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry," said the department, adding that "bird flu virus levels have been shown to be high in raw milk from infected cows, and sporadic human cases identified in workers closely interacting with infected dairy cows and their milk suggest that raw milk can be infectious to humans."
As of now, 58 human cases of the H5 bird flu have been documented in the United States during 2024, with 32 cases occurring in California, according to the latest statistics from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
