Bird Flu & Raw Milk

In March 2024, there was a link between bird flu & raw milk, but I feel people are being more hyper aware about the advancement of the raw milk industry and it seems like this trend happens every so often almost like a New Years Resolution that sometimes passes through one’s mind but doesn’t quite pan out after the first few months of the New Year.

This year raw milk seems to be on the radar of so many people as social media stirs about a new government official and people seem to want to be more self-sufficient and rely less on the FDA and others who are tasked with keeping us as safe as possible.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with state partners, continue to investigate an outbreak of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) impacting poultry, dairy cows, and people in multiple states.

The responsibility of the FDA is to protect the public health by ensuring the safety of the milk, dairy products, and animal feed supply. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is leading the response from the animal health perspective while coordinating closely with the FDA and with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

After the first detection of HPAI H5N1 in dairy cattle in March 2024, the FDA has engaged in research and other efforts with industry, federal, and state partners to ensure the continued effectiveness of the federal-state milk safety system.

Nearly all (99%) of the commercial milk supply that is produced on dairy farms in the US comes from farms that participate in the Grade A Milk Safety Program and follow the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which includes controls that help ensure the safety of dairy products. Pasteurization and diversion or destruction of abnormal milk are two important measures that are part of the federal-state milk safety system.

The process of pasteurization has helped to ensure the health of the American public for more than 100 years. Pasteurization kills harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature over time. Even if the virus is detected in raw milk, the current pasteurization process (HTST – High Temperature, Short Time) will inactivate the virus.

How About the Cats & Dogs?

On January 17, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it has determined that it is necessary for manufacturers of cat and dog foods who are covered by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule and using uncooked or unpasteurized materials derived from poultry or cattle (e.g.,  uncooked meat, unpasteurized milk,  uncooked/unpasteurized eggs) to reanalyze their food safety plans to include Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza virus (specifically H5N1) as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard. Furthermore, FDA is issuing the announcement to ensure that cat and dog food manufacturers are aware of information about the new H5N1 hazard associated with their pet food products, which is an additional reason that manufacturers must conduct a reanalysis of their food safety plans

What does this mean for raw milk?

Simply put raw milk is sold from farmer to consumer without going through the process of pasteurization which kills the bacteria that can potentially contain the bird flu. If pet food is even being protected it is highly imperative that we protect ourselves as much as possible by only consuming pasteurized milk. I have found personally that many local markets carry milk from local farms that do follow protocol from the FDA and pasteurize their products. I know many people want to shop locally and support local farmers and this is such an awesome option as opposed to just going to a random farm and picking up a jar of milk that could be riddled with bacteria and harmful viruses.

For more food safety news please keep an eye on Make Food Safe as the bird flu is an ever-evolving issue in the United States.