FRESNO, CA., 11/28/24 – State health officials issued another warning about a batch of raw milk produced in California after a second detection of bird flu virus has been confirmed, the California Department of Public Health said Wednesday night.
Officials first announced the presence of bird flu in a retail sample of raw milk from the Raw Farm dairy of Fresno County on Sunday.
The department has now issued a second warning to residents not to consume the affected cream top, whole raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm.
Raw Farm’s milk is sold across the state, according to its website. Retailers include Nugget Market, Sprouts, Ukiah Natural Foods, Mariposa Market, Olivers Market, and other stores. Most of the retailers are independently-owned and/or natural food markets.
The company voluntarily recalled the product. The first batch found to contain bird flu virus was lot code 20241109 with a Best By date of 11/27/2024 on the package, the department said. The second batch has a lot code of 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024.
On Wednesday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture was onsite at the Raw Farm milk processing facility collecting additional samples. Results from that additional testing are pending, the CDPH said.
The state is currently investigating a link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry and “sporadic” human cases, according to the CDPH.
No illnesses associated with these lots of cream top raw milk have been reported, the CDPH said.
Out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of bird flu, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk. Consumers should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased.
Bird flu symptoms include cough, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, fever and other cold- and flu-like unpleasantness.
The CDPH said public health experts have long warned consumers against ingesting raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illnesses. Raw milk products are not pasteurized, a process which kills bacteria and viruses such as bird flu.