One In Five Milk Samples From Across US Had Traces Of Bird Flu Virus, FDA Says

One of five samples of milk collected from store shelves across the country contained traces of the bird flu virus, the Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday, highlighting the extent of the issue just days after the agency said it found remnants of H5N1 in some retail milk samples.

The FDA found traces of the bird flu virus in 1 of 5 retail milk samples tested

Key Facts

In an update on its website, the FDA said the findings were the initial results from a study conducted on "nationally representative" retail samples of milk.

The agency said a higher proportion of samples testing positive for the virus remnants came from milk in areas with infected herds.

The FDA reiterated that the positive test results did not mean there was an immediate risk to consumers.

The agency also said work by National Institutes of Health-funded investigators "indicates an absence of infectious virus," adding, "commercial milk supply is safe."

News Peg

As of Thursday night, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has detected 33 dairy cow herds with bird flu infections across eight states—Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Michigan, Idaho, North Carolina, South Dakota and Ohio. However, the FDA's latest findings suggest the extent of the infections could be significantly higher—something scientists and health experts have warned about. On Wednesday, USDA issued an order mandating bird flu tests for dairy cattle before they are transported between two states. The agency will also reimburse dairy farmers for conducting tests on their livestock, including asymptomatic animals.

Key Background

The FDA first reported finding remnants of the bird flu virus in pasteurized milk samples earlier this week. The agency said the viral traces did not pose a threat to consumers as pasteurization—the process of heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period—kills harmful bacteria and viruses. The agency also reiterated its warning against consuming raw unpasteurized milk, noting there was limited information available about the H5N1 virus transmitting through raw milk. While H5N1 has been detected in livestock, the CDC says the risk of spread to humans remains low. So far, only two cases of H5N1 infections have been reported in the U.S., including one person in Texas earlier this month and another individual in Colorado in 2022.

Further Reading

Bird Flu Virus Remnants Found In U.S. Milk Supply—FDA Says Milk Remains Safe (Forbes)