California raw milk recall expands; Tests find more bird flu viruses

FILE PHOTO: Bottles of raw milk are for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Related Press Photo/JoNel Aleccia, File)

A California farm expanded its recall of raw milk sold in stores and halted production after state health and agriculture officials found bird flu viruses in additional milk samples.

Fresno-based Raw Farm voluntarily recalled all whole milk and cream products from stores late Tuesday after testing found the bird flu virus in “several” retail samples and dairy storage and bottling plants. The recall affects all raw milk and cream produced between November 9th and 27th.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has quarantined the farm and suspended distribution of raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after November 27th.

“Californians are strongly advised not to consume any raw milk or cream products in their possession or still on store shelves,” officials said in a statement.

The move followed recalls of two batches of Raw Farm products after bird flu was first detected in retail milk on November 21.

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READ: Avian flu virus: Public warns against consuming recalled raw milk

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No known cases of bird flu viruses have been confirmed in people who drank raw milk, health officials said. Pasteurized milk is heat treated to kill the virus and remains drinkable.

Pet owners should also avoid feeding Raw Farm products, sold nationwide as “pet food toppers” or “pet food kefir,” to their animals because they could make them sick, health officials said. Cats on farms with infected cows suffered brain damage and died after drinking contaminated raw milk.

The bird flu virus, also known as avian influenza type A H5N1, was first detected in dairy cows in the United States in March. The virus is spreading rapidly, particularly in California, where nearly 500 of the more than 700 infected U.S. herds have been detected.

The virus has infected 57 people in the U.S. this year, including 31 in California, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mild illnesses have been observed in dairy and poultry workers who have had close contact with infected animals. In two cases, an adult in Missouri and a child in California, no known source of disease could be identified. No cases of avian influenza transmission between humans have been identified in the United States.

Health officials have long warned against consuming raw milk because it can contain germs that can cause mild to life-threatening illnesses.

READ: Bird flu virus found in California raw milk

Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee has called for less raw milk regulation. In an Instagram post on Wednesday, farm officials said they were working to quickly restore supplies.

“There are no diseases associated with H5N1 in our products. Rather, this is a political matter,” the post says. “There are no issues with the food safety of our products or consumer safety. We are working to resolve this policy issue while also working with our state regulators.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appointed as the nation’s top health official, has vowed to allow wider distribution of raw milk. McAfee told The Associated Press that Kennedy was a customer of his products. Kennedy criticized the agriculture departments for their crackdown on raw milk and promised that the Food and Drug Administration’s “aggressive crackdown” on unpasteurized milk would end under President-elect Donald Trump.