California health officials have issued a recall for a batch of raw milk from Fresno-based Raw Farm, LLC, after it tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus. The affected batch, with lot code 20241109 and a “Best By” date of Nov. 27, 2024, has been pulled from retail shelves, and customers are urged to return any remaining product. No illnesses have been reported, but authorities warn that consuming raw milk can expose individuals to serious health risks, including foodborne illnesses and bird flu. Pasteurized milk remains safe for consumption, as the pasteurization process effectively inactivates the virus.
California public health officials have issued a warning about a voluntary recall of a batch of raw milk from Fresno-based Raw Farm, LLC, after it was found to be contaminated with the H5N1 bird flu virus. The recall affects a single batch of cream top, whole raw milk, which has a lot code of 20241109 and a “Best By” date of Nov. 27, 2024.
Raw Farm, a dairy company based in Fresno, is cooperating with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to ensure consumer safety. CDPH officials have urged customers to return any remaining product from the affected batch to the retail point of purchase. Retailers are also being notified to remove the affected milk from store shelves. No illnesses have been reported in connection to the contaminated milk.
Health Risk from Raw Milk
The contamination was discovered after a sample of milk was purchased at a retail outlet in Fresno, and the result was confirmed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. California health officials have emphasized that pasteurized milk remains safe for consumption, as the pasteurization process is fully effective at inactivating the H5N1 virus.
However, officials warned against consuming raw milk, as it carries an elevated risk of foodborne illnesses. The consumption of raw milk can expose individuals to pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, in addition to bird flu. The CDPH also cautioned that drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk contaminated with the bird flu virus can cause illness, and touching the mouth, nose, or eyes after handling contaminated milk could lead to infection.
Ongoing Testing and Surveillance
Following the detection of bird flu in California’s dairy cows in August, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) initiated weekly testing of raw dairy products from dairies. After the contamination was found in Raw Farm’s product, CDFA conducted additional testing at both of the company’s facilities, with negative results for bird flu. Moving forward, the CDFA will test Raw Farm’s products twice per week.
California has seen a rise in bird flu infections among dairy workers, with 13 confirmed cases to date. While the first human case of bird flu in California was reported in October, authorities have not detected any person-to-person transmission. Of the 29 confirmed human cases in the state, 28 were linked to direct contact with infected cattle.
The recall serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety and the risks associated with consuming raw dairy products, particularly amid the ongoing bird flu outbreak.
