With bird flu infecting dairy cattle, FDA asks some states to curb sales of raw milk

As the H5N1 bird flu virus spreads through dairy cattle, the US Food and Drug Administration is asking states to take more steps to protect the public from the risks of raw milk.In an open letter posted to the agency’s website on Friday, it urged states to warn the public more strongly about the dangers of raw milk and to test herds that produce it for sale.

As the H5N1 bird flu virus spreads through dairy cattle, the US Food and Drug Administration is asking states to take more steps to protect the public from the risks of raw milk. In an open letter posted to the agency’s website on Thursday, it urged states to warn the public more strongly about the dangers of raw milk and to test herds that produce it for sale. The FDA also recommended that states use their regulatory authorities to stop the sale of raw milk within the state or in areas where dairy herds have tested positive. On Thursday, Minnesota became the 10th state to report infected herds. According to the US Department of Agriculture, 82 herds in the US have tested positive for the H5N1 virus. The FDA doesn’t allow the sale of raw milk across state lines, but several states allow the sale of raw milk for human consumption within their borders, with varying requirements. Some states allow raw milk to be sold as pet food labeled “not for human consumption,” understanding that what people do with the milk in their own homes is up to them. Raw milk can carry high levels of the H5N1 bird flu virus because the virus appears to infect cows through their udders. It is not yet known whether people can get bird flu by drinking milk contaminated with the virus.  However, cats living on farms with infected cows have died after consuming unpasteurized milk, and three dairy workers exposed to raw milk have been infected.