Bird Flu Fears Spark Recall of Raw Milk in California

California health officials are urging people to steer clear of a specific batch of raw milk after tests found it may contain the bird flu virus. 

The affected milk, made by Raw Farm LLC in Fresno County, has a lot code of 20241109 and a “Best By” date of November 27. If you have this milk at home, don’t drink it. Instead, return it to the store for a refund.

Raw milk is milk that hasn’t been pasteurized (a heating process that kills harmful germs). While some people swear by raw milk’s natural taste or supposed health benefits, experts warn that it can carry dangerous bacteria and viruses. This includes bird flu, which was detected in a sample of this batch during routine testing, according to the California Department of Public Health. 

Although no one has gotten sick from this batch yet, the virus can cause flu-like symptoms in people, like a fever, coughing, body aches, or even red, irritated eyes. If you’ve had this milk and are feeling off, reach out to your doctor right away.

In response, California has started testing raw milk twice a week to catch issues before they reach consumers. Officials are also working with dairy farmers and retailers to ensure products on shelves are safe.

Bird flu was first detected in U.S. cattle in March. Since then, cases have been documented in dairy cow herds in 15 states. Overall, there have been 55 human cases of bird flu reported in the US this year, according to the CDC, including a case in California where a child was infected. 

Lisa O’Mary contributed to this report. 

SOURCE: 

California Department of Public Health: “California Acts to Protect Public Health: ​CDPH Warns Against Drinking Single Lot of Raw Milk Following Bird Flu Detection; Secures Voluntary Recall.”