Officials Push Urgent Warning To Avoid Bird Flu Risk

Avoid drinking this.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on Wednesday concerning the potential risks associated with consuming raw, unpasteurized milk, highlighting the possibility of contracting bird flu. Dr. Donald Prater, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, emphasized the agency’s firm stance against the consumption of raw milk during a media briefing.

Pasteurization, a common process applied to dairy milk sold in stores, is known to effectively eliminate the bird flu virus, H5N1. The FDA, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), assured the public of the safety of commercial milk due to this pasteurization process and the careful management of milk from infected cows.

Despite the relatively low risk posed by the bird flu virus, federal officials cautioned against the consumption of raw milk and raw milk cheese due to the potential health hazards associated with these products. Avian flu is among the serious health risks that can be transmitted through raw milk.

Statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that between 1998 and 2018, there were 202 outbreaks linked to the consumption of raw milk, resulting in thousands of illnesses and hospitalizations.

Benjamin Chapman, a food safety specialist at North Carolina State University, underscored the inherent risks associated with raw milk, highlighting its classification as one of the riskiest foods.

Testing has indicated a significant viral presence in raw cow’s milk, according to Dr. Rosemary Sifford, deputy administrator of veterinary services at the Department of Agriculture. Officials suspect that milk may serve as a primary mode of transmission for the bird flu virus among cows.

Regarding the transmission of bird flu from raw milk to humans, Prater acknowledged the ongoing research aimed at determining the infectivity of the virus through raw milk products. While there is limited data available on this aspect, researchers are actively monitoring the situation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed cases of bird flu in dairy cows across nine states, highlighting the importance of vigilance and caution in handling and consuming raw milk products.