On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration declared that one out of every five pasteurized milk samples contained viral particles of the H5N1 bird flu.
The virus pieces are derived from milk in locations where infected cattle are present, according to positive findings from the FDA’s commercial milk sampling investigation.
Dairy cows and herds in Texas, Kansas, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, and South Dakota have been exposed to avian flu since March.
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A federal order was issued earlier this week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture mandating that, in order to reduce the spread of the virus, dairy cows being transported across state boundaries require testing for bird flu.
According to FDA officials, milk that has tested positive for avian flu does not represent a risk and is safe to eat.
“Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk,” the FDA stated. “Even if virus is detected in raw milk, pasteurization is generally expected to eliminate pathogens to a level that does not pose a risk to consumer health.”
