California health officials have advised the public to avoid drinking a specific batch of whole raw milk from Raw Farm, which has voluntarily recalled the product. Bird flu was detected in this batch during routine testing. The affected milk has a “best by” date of November 27.
Although no illnesses have been reported, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) urges caution due to the ongoing spread of bird flu among dairy cows, poultry, and occasional human cases. Raw milk, unlike most store-bought milk, is not pasteurized, which means it hasn’t been heated to kill harmful germs and viruses.
Public health officials warn that consuming raw milk can pose serious health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends consuming pasteurized milk to reduce the risk of milk-borne illnesses.
The virus was found in a sample tested by the County of Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory and confirmed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System. Subsequent tests at Raw Farm’s locations were negative for the virus. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) will continue testing raw milk banks twice a week.
Raw Farm, based in Fresno County, announced the recall of lot ID #20241109, stating that all their tests and official tests by CDFA have been negative, and no illnesses have been reported. The CDPH warns that drinking or inhaling raw milk with the bird flu virus can lead to illness, and touching your face with unwashed hands after handling the milk can also cause infection.
This recall follows 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu in California since early October, primarily from cows. All cases had mild symptoms, mostly eye infections, and none required hospitalization. No person-to-person transmission of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S.