Avian flu found in raw milk from dairy in California. Voluntary recall issued

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — State public health official are warning the public of raw milk — one particular batch, at least.

On Sunday, the Fresno County-based Raw Farm dairy voluntarily recalled a batch of its cream top, whole raw milk after a sample tested positive for the avian flu.

The affected product is tagged with the lot code 20241109 with Best By date of 1/27/2024.

No illnesses have been reported, but officials are urging consumers to return the product to the store where it was purchased.

The sample was discovered at a retail outlet in Santa Clara County, according to the California Department of Public Health. The county has been testing raw milk from stores as a second line of consumer protection against the avian flu, which has spread across the state in poultry, dairy cows and humans.

Risks of raw milk

Health officials have been warning of the possibly dangers of consuming raw milk product since the bird flu was first detected in dairy cows in March.

At least one FDA study showed 14% of raw milk samples taken from states with dairy herd outbreaks contained infectious avian flu and according to the state’s public health officials, “drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.”

Of course, public health experts have generally warned consumers against raw, unpasteurized milk and its products for years because of elevated risks of foodborne illness like Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. The heating process of pasteurization kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness and pasteurized milk remains safe to drink, according to the department of health.

Raw Farms popular despite recalls

Raw Farms is the world’s largest raw dairy brand, with facilities in both Fresno and Kings counties.

This isn’t the first time the company has been hit with a recall of its product.

In February, its owner tangled with the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention over the possibility its raw milk cheddar might have made caused at least 10 illnesses in four states. Out of abundance of caution, the dairy voluntarily recalled some of its cheese, even as the owner claimed no evidence of E. coli was found. In October 2023, Raw Farm also had to voluntarily recall its fluid milk and heavy cream after 19 people in Southern California became ill with salmonella.

Health officials did link those illnesses to drinking Raw Farm’s milk or milk products.

Still, Raw Farms remains popular among its customer base, who argue that pasteurization kills helpful bacteria and raw milk helps create and maintain a healthy immune system. In June, the company told The Bee its sales were at an all-time high, up to 80,000 gallons a week.

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