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traces of bird flu Has been found in pasteurized milk – leaving many people wondering if it is safe to drink.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a notice on Thursday saying that traces of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu or avian flu, were found in one in five retail samples of commercial milk. Known as.
The fraction of milk containing viral residues was higher in areas where cattle herds were infected.
However, the FDA said the presence of the virus in milk does not mean there is any risk to consumers.
The agency said, “Additional testing is needed to determine whether an intact pathogen is still present and if it remains infectious, which will help determine whether there is any risk of illness associated with consumption of the product or No.”
Traces of bird flu have been found in pasteurized milk, leading many to wonder if it is safe to drink. (iStock)
“Although bird flu virus Do not generally infect humans, sporadic human infections have occurred,” the FDA said in the warning.
Experts say pasteurization eliminates risk
Before milk can be sold commercially, it is required to be pasteurized as per government regulations.
According to the website of the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), during the pasteurization process, raw milk is heated to a certain temperature for a period of time and then cooled again.
This process kills any pathogens and ensures that the milk is safe to drink.
Bird flu virus found in grocery store’s milk, but no danger to customers, says FDA
Dr. Scott Pagan, a professor of biomedical sciences at the University of California, Riverside, and a biochemist at the United States Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, said the FDA’s findings do not mean there is any direct risk to consumers.
“In the US, milk sold commercially interstate is required to be pasteurized,” he told Fox News Digital. “This process is designed to kill viruses like H5N1 and other bacteria that may pose a threat to human health.”
A milk pasteurization system is shown at a food and beverage exhibition. Pasteurization is a process that kills germs in food and drinks, such as milk, juice, canned food, and others. (iStock)
Pagan added, “Pasteurized milk is safe and there is no current reason to avoid it or other pasteurized milk products based on the FDA’s findings.”
“However, there is considerable risk in consuming unpasteurized milk and products made from that milk.”
Even after Viruses and Bacteria Although they are killed in pasteurized milk, residues may remain in the milk — but they are not dangerous, he said.
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Edward Liu, MD, chief of infectious diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in New Jersey, agreed that there is no risk from drinking pasteurized milk.
“Pasteurization is the key — heat treatment kills the virus,” he told Fox News Digital. “Although the FDA’s testing picked up fragments (of the virus), the heating process destroyed it, so it is no longer able to infect people.”
The fraction of milk containing viral residues was higher in areas where cattle herds were infected. (iStock)
The pieces alone are not enough to cause any type of infectionHe confirmed.
“I think the key word is ‘fragments’. Like COVID, if you do a PCR test a month later, we will detect small fragments of the virus, but it is no longer active,” Liu said Said.
“So if the virus is not completely intact, it should not be able to infect you.”
Liu said sporadic cases of human infection are likely to occur when a farmer is directly handling birds.
Consumers should avoid drinking raw milk that has not been pasteurized, the FDA said.
“There are some people who like to go all natural, but pasteurization has been used for decades for safety,” he said. “Some degree of processing is actually better and safer for us.”
Experts say animals are of greater concern
“Indirect concern” within scientific and. medical community This increases the risk of “spillover” of the H5N1 virus from animals, Pagan said.
“before Outbreak in dairy cattle“The concern primarily revolves around the risk of transmission from wild birds or poultry to humans,” he told Fox News Digital.
One expert said there is “indirect concern” within the scientific and medical community over the increased risk of “spillover” of the H5N1 virus from animals. (Reuters/Dado Ruvik/Illustration/File photo)
“The presence of H5N1 avian flu in the milk of these cattle suggests that cattle may be able to provide a new reservoir for this virus, increasing the likelihood of direct contact with infected cattle.”
Pagan said the more animals infected, the more likely humans could come into direct contact with the virus — potentially leading to a higher number of human cases.
“The cattle-to-human transmission seen in Texas is consistent with this concern,” he said.
“Furthermore, as more mammals are infected, the likelihood that the virus will adapt to other mammals such as humans increases.”
FDA recommendations
The FDA reiterated its “long-standing recommendation” that consumers avoid drinking raw milk that has not been pasteurized.
The agency also recommends that companies avoid manufacturing or selling raw milk products made from raw milk or milk from cows that tested positive for bird flu, were exposed to, or appeared to have the virus. symptoms of disease,
“Over the past few years, consumer demand for these unpasteurized products has increased,” Pagan said.
The FDA reiterated its “long-standing recommendation” that consumers avoid drinking raw milk that has not been pasteurized. (iStock)
“Although selling through interstate brands is not allowed, some states have exempted local sales of these products at farmers markets and similar stores,” he said.
“Until more is known about this H5N1 avian flu outbreak in dairy cattle, people may want to avoid those unpasteurized products.”
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The FDA also urged producers to “exercise caution” when discarding milk from affected cows, “so that discarded milk does not become a source of further spread.”
The FDA said so far only one person has been confirmed to be infected with the virus after coming in contact with infected cows.
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“CDC says the risk to the general public is low,” the agency said.
“The FDA and USDA continue to indicate that, based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe.”
Fox News Digital contacted the National Milk Producers Federation, the American Dairy Association and the International Dairy Foods Association for comment.
