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For the second time this week California's Department of Public Health is warning people not to consume raw milk by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County, after a retail product on the shelf tested positive for the H5 virus.
Customers are urged not to drink the product and to return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. While raw milk is legal in California (see map above), the CDPH (along with most public health entities) does not consider it safe.This time, the recalled lot (20241119) has a best used by date of 12/07/24.
With the recent introduction of the avian HPAI H5N1 virus to dairy cattle, the risks from consumption have only increased.
The full CDPH press release follows (along with photos of the product).
November 27, 2024
NR24-042Voluntary recall underway; Pasteurized milk is safe to drink
What You Need to Know: CDPH is issuing another warning to Californians not to consume an additional batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a second detection of bird flu virus. Raw Farm, LLC issued a voluntary recall at the state’s request of the affected lot code 20241119 with a Best By 12/07/2024. Consumers should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. Pasteurized milk remains safe to drink.
Sacramento – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing a second warning to Californians to not consume raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a detection of bird flu virus in a second retail sample. At the state’s request, the company has issued a voluntary recall of the affected milk lot code number 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024 printed on the packaging.
No human bird flu cases associated with the product have been detected. As the state continues to investigate the link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers are strongly urged to not consume any of the affected raw milk. Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase.
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was onsite at Raw Farm’s milk processing facility today, November 27, collecting additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products. Results from that additional testing are pending.
As with the testing that led to the November 24 voluntary recall notice, the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory tested raw milk products from retail stores in their county as a second line of consumer protection. The county identified bird flu in this second sample of raw milk purchased at a retail outlet.
Risks Associated with Raw MilkPublic health experts have long warned consumers against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all been reported related to consuming raw dairy products. Raw milk products are not pasteurized, a heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as bird flu.
Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection. Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing and fever. Anyone who has consumed these specific products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.
California Regularly Tests Raw MilkAs part of the state’s bird flu response, testing of raw milk from dairies has been increased to help prevent raw milk consumers from getting the virus. Once bird flu was found in California dairy herds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began regular testing of raw milk in bulk tanks. In response to these recent positive tests from two retail raw milk batches, CDFA followed up with immediate additional sampling and testing at Raw Farm.
Pasteurized Milk is Safe to DrinkPasteurized milk is safe to drink. Pasteurization, one of the most significant scientific food safety discoveries in human history, is the process of heating milk to specific temperatures for a certain length of time to kill many microorganisms and enzymes that lead to spoilage and illness. Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other harmful germs that can be found in raw milk. CDPH advises consumers not to drink raw milk or eat raw milk products due to the risk of foodborne illnesses.
About Bird FluSince early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, 28 of whom had direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S. To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections), and none have been hospitalized. Because bird flu viruses can change and gain the ability to spread more easily between people, public health officials have provided preventive measures and are monitoring animal and human infections carefully.
Protecting Public HealthCalifornia continues to take swift and comprehensive action in response to the detection of bird flu in dairy cows across the Central Valley, demonstrating a strong commitment to public health and worker safety. While the overall risk to the public remains low, the state is prioritizing containment efforts, raising public awareness, and providing resources to those at higher risk. Key initiatives include the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), increased testing, and robust surveillance of infected areas.
Through coordinated efforts between agencies like CDPH, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and CalOES, California is leading a cross-agency response that includes multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, a targeted social media campaign to promote preventive practices, and media interviews to keep the public informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring that farm workers have access to additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks.
Specifically, the state is:
- Working with local, state, and federal partners to monitor bird flu in farm animals and people who work closely with poultry and dairy cows.
- Distributing protective gear to dairy farms and workers who have contact with infected dairy cows or raw milk to reduce the risk of getting bird flu.
- Helping ensure individuals with symptoms of or exposure to bird flu have access to testing and treatment.
- Conducting timely public education efforts to ensure those impacted have information about bird flu.
How Bird Flu Spreads
- Touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after contact with raw milk from an infected cow, or other contaminated items or surfaces.
- Raw milk from an infected cow splashed into eyes, nose, or mouth.
- Drinking raw milk from a cow infected with bird flu virus.
More Resources
- For the latest information on the state’s bird flu response, visit CDPH’s Bird Flu webpage and CDFA’s H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock site.
- For information on the national bird flu response, see CDC's Bird Flu Response Update.
- For work-related questions or complaints related to bird flu, contact the Cal/OSHA Call Center in English or Spanish at 1-833-579-0927. Employers can contact the California Occupational Health and Safety Division at 800-963-9424 for a free consultation to strengthen their illness and injury safety program.
- Farmers should contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s bird flu hotline at 866-922-2473 if they suspect their animals are infected with bird flu.
