CNN
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Fowl flu virus has been present in a batch of uncooked milk bought in California, and customers mustn’t drink it, the state Division of Public Well being warned Sunday.
The agency stated that no diseases have been related to the lot of uncooked milk and that pasteurized milk stays secure to drink.
“Out of an abundance of warning, and as a result of ongoing unfold of hen flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human circumstances, customers mustn’t devour any of the affected uncooked milk,” it stated.
Uncooked Farm LLC of Fresno County, California, recalled quart and half-gallon sizes of its uncooked milk with the lot ID of 20241109 and a best-by date of November 27.
On Thursday, the Santa Clara County Public Well being Laboratory was testing uncooked milk merchandise from retail shops when one of many samples examined constructive for H5 hen flu. The county contacted shops promoting uncooked milk on Friday and advisable that they pull the uncooked milk whereas the pattern was examined additional. The take a look at was independently verified by the California Animal Well being and Meals Security Laboratory on Saturday.
The corporate stated that it’s utilizing its normal security procedures to observe cows for sickness and that milk from the recalled lot needs to be off of retailer cabinets. Uncooked Farm stated in a news release that “All outcomes carried out by RAW FARM and all the official exams by CDFA (the California State company that regulates and exams Uncooked Farm merchandise) have been NEGATIVE.”
CNN has reached out to the California Division of Meals and Agriculture for remark.
“None of our provide has halted, modified or been paused,” Kaleigh Stanziani, vice chairman of selling at Uncooked Farm, stated in a video posted on YouTube. “We’re not going to be adjusting any of our routes. We simply need to ensure that we’re all the time an abundance of warning always.”
Uncooked milk isn’t pasteurized and may carry disease-causing pathogens. Public well being officers have lengthy warned in opposition to consuming uncooked milk resulting from danger of sickness and dying, and it’s not allowed to be bought between states. In accordance with the US Meals and Drug Administration, there’s no scientific proof that uncooked milk helps with diseases or allergic reactions.
As hen flu has unfold amongst poultry and cattle within the US this 12 months, uncooked milk has seen a brand new wave of curiosity. It additionally has some high-profile supporters, together with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to steer the US Division of Well being and Human Companies, who has stated he drinks it.
In June, the FDA urged states to warn the general public extra strongly concerning the risks of uncooked milk and to make use of their regulatory authorities to cease the sale of uncooked milk in areas the place dairy herds have examined constructive for H5N1.
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The brand new recall comes amid hen flu outbreaks in wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle. There’s no proof of person-to-person unfold.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 55 human circumstances of hen flu in 2024, together with 29 in California. Most are linked to farm staff who’ve been involved with sick animals. Final week, the CDC introduced the primary US case of hen flu recognized in a toddler in California; an investigation into how the kid was uncovered is underway.
Fowl flu signs in people embody typical flu-like signs corresponding to eye redness, sore throat, runny nostril, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, physique aches, fatigue, bother swallowing or fever. The California well being division encourages anybody who has consumed the product and notices signs to alert their health-care supplier or native well being division instantly.
CNN’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.