CNN
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Distribution of Raw Farm raw milk products has been suspended after chicken flu virus was present in milk samples, the California Department of Food and Agriculture mentioned.
“All Raw Farm operations are at the moment below quarantine, from herds to bottled product, which signifies that all uncooked milk product distribution is suspended,” Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for the company, mentioned in an announcement on Monday.
“CDFA dairy inspectors sampled milk from bottled merchandise and bulk milk storage at Raw Farm’s bottling facility on Wednesday, Nov 27, and laboratory take a look at outcomes made recognized on November 28 confirmed the presence of the chicken flu virus. All milk examined by CDFA remained on the Raw Farm plant and was not launched to shoppers.”
Federal, state and county officers are persevering with to research, Lyle mentioned.
California well being officers beforehand warned shoppers to not drink two plenty of recalled Raw Farm merchandise — lot code 20241119 with a best-by date of 12/07/2024 and lot code 20241109 with a best-by date of November 27 — after testing recognized chicken flu virus within the milk.
In data despatched to CNN, Raw Farm mentioned merchandise from earlier than state testing should still be on retailer cabinets however no new provide will likely be added till the quarantine is lifted. There aren’t any indicators of signs of chicken flu within the dairy herd, it mentioned.
“Our hard-working dairy crew is working in full cooperation with the state to take care of regulatory compliance,” Raw Farm posted on Instagram. “There will likely be provide shortages and we apologies for [this] inconvenience.”
As chicken flu has unfold amongst poultry and cattle within the US this 12 months, uncooked milk has seen a brand new wave of curiosity and a few high-profile supporters, together with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s selection to guide the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Raw milk was on a laundry listing of things that confronted “aggressive suppression” by the US Food and Drug Administration, Kennedy mentioned in a post on X in October. In a reality sheet shared with CNN on Monday, Raw Farm mentioned its CEO, Mark McAfee, “has been requested by the RFK transition crew to use for the place of ‘FDA advisor on Raw Milk Policy and Standards Development.’ ” CNN has reached out to the Trump transition crew for remark.
Pasteurized milk goes by a heating course of that kills dangerous micro organism. Raw milk isn’t pasteurized and may carry disease-causing pathogens equivalent to listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, E. coli and chicken flu virus, in response to the California Department of Public Health. Anyone can get sick from uncooked milk, however youngsters, older adults, pregnant folks and other people with weakened immune programs usually tend to turn into in poor health. Past outbreaks linked to consumption of uncooked milk or uncooked milk merchandise concerned miscarriages, nonetheless births, kidney failure and deaths.
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According to the FDA, there’s no scientific proof that uncooked milk helps with diseases or allergic reactions, and it’s not allowed to be bought between states. In June, the company urged states to warn the public more strongly in regards to 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.
No circumstances of chicken flu have been linked to the milk however the state has mentioned it’s investigating hyperlinks between chicken flu in uncooked milk and the continuing unfold of chicken flu in dairy cows, poultry and people.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 55 human circumstances of chicken flu in 2024, together with 29 in California. Most are linked to farm staff who’ve been involved with sick animals.
Bird flu signs in people embody typical flu-like signs equivalent to eye redness, sore throat, runny nostril, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, physique aches, fatigue, hassle swallowing or fever. Anyone who has consumed uncooked milk merchandise and notices signs ought to alert their well being care supplier or native well being division instantly, California’s well being division mentioned.
