niman

California health officials said late Tuesday they secured a "broad recall" of raw milk and raw cream, pulling all products made by producer Raw Farms off shelves after testing turned up positive for bird flu. Fresno-based Raw Farm is now under quarantine, suspending any new distribution of its raw milk, cream, kefir, butter and cheese products produced on or after Nov. 27, the California Department of Public Health said. The action follows two recalls by Raw Farm after bird flu was detected in milk sold at retailers. https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news/broad-recall-of-raw-milk-in-california-after-bird-flu-testing-120424.html

Tests for avian flu are underway after 31 swans were found dead at a Sacramento County park over the last week. According to Sacramento County, the swans were found at the lake in Mather Regional Park. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is conducting the tests out of an abundance of caution. https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/sacramento/mather-regional-park-closed-death-31-swans/103-933d9df0-0e73-4e20-954d-dead77a58263

Message ID: 2216 Public Message Priority: Advisory Idaho Health Alert Network Health Message Details From: Health District 3 - Southwest District Health (PHD3) Sent: 5/31/2024 4:09:17 PM To: District Director (PHD3), Epidemiologist (PHD3), Family Health Director (PHD3), Community Health Director (PHD3), Environmental Health Director (PHD3), Public Information Officer (PHD3), Veterinarian (PHD3) Subject: Recognition, Testing, and Management of Avian Influenza in Potentially Exposed Cats- Updated for improved legibility PHIN Specific Data Severity: Moderate Delivery Time: 15 Minutes PHIN Status: Actual Message Type: Alert Sensitivity: Non Sensitive Acknowledgement: No HEALTH ALERT NETWORK HEALTH DISTRICT 3 Guidance for Veterinarians Recognition, Testing, and Management of Avian Influenza in Potentially Exposed Cats May 31, 2024 Avian influenza A(H5N1) has been detected in cats on farms affected by an ongoing outbreak in dairy cows and backyard bird flocks. Since April 1, 2024, avian influenza A(H5N1) has been confirmed in Idaho dairy cows located on eight dairy farms, in Cassia, Jerome, and Minidoka counties, and in four backyard flocks in Cassia and Jerome counties. Nationally, two human cases have been detected in dairy workers, one each in Texas and Michigan. Infections with avian influenza A(H5N1) virus belonging to Gs/GD lineage, clade 2.3.4.4b Eurasian-origin have been reported in birds in the United States since 2021. These viruses mainly infect and spread among wild migratory waterfowl and domestic poultry and infrequently affect mammals. Veterinarians are advised to consider avian influenza A(H5N1) in cats with respiratory, neurologic, or enteric signs that have potentially been exposed to the virus. Avian influenza A(H5N1) in cats Avian influenza A(H5N1) primarily affects birds but can also infect mammals. Exposure of cats to avian influenza A(H5N1) usually occurs through consuming infected birds or other animals, or being in environments contaminated with the virus. In the current outbreak, consumption of unpasteurized milk from infected cows is thought to be another possible route of exposure. Spread from mammal to mammal is thought to be rare. Cat-to-cat transmission through respiratory secretions has occurred experimentally. The incubation period is one to two days, with virus shedding in feces and nasal secretions. Nasal excretion starts about three days after infection and continues for four or more days. Clinical signs in infected cats range from mild to severe, including death. Subclinical infections can occur. Signs include listlessness, loss of appetite, severe depression, fever, and jaundice. Respiratory, neurologic, and enteric disease may be seen. Differential diagnosis should exclude more common feline viral and bacterial infections causing similar signs. Testing cats for avian influenza A(H5N1) in Idaho Veterinarians interested in testing specimens from ill or dead cats potentially exposed to affected dairy cows or their unpasteurized milk or to backyard flocks affected by avian influenza must contact the local public health district (PHD) epidemiologist for prior approval to submit samples to the Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL) for testing. A map of PHDs and their contact information is found here: https://healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/health-wellness/community-health/public-health-districts Once prior approval is obtained from the PHD, the veterinarian will be provided with the appropriate sample submission form. Appropriate samples include nasal or oropharyngeal swabs in viral transport media or necropsy tissues depending on the clinical presentation: brain for neurological presentations and lung for respiratory presentations. No transport media is necessary for tissues. Tissues should be frozen in a Whirl-Pak bag (or other sealed bag) and once approved for testing, sent to IBL on chill packs in a leak-proof container. Ask the PHD about the availability of a courier. Samples must be accompanied by the appropriate sample submission form. If the animal has neurologic signs, rabies testing will be done on the brain prior to influenza testing. Testing will not be performed over the weekend. See https://statelab.idaho.gov/ for details and contact the IBL virology section, 208-334-0523 if you have questions. With prior approval, there is no charge for testing of cats if influenza A(H5N1) is suspected. Testing of specimens not approved for testing at IBL, and testing of veterinary patient specimens is available through the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory. Veterinarians who suspect HPAI A(H5N1) in livestock or poultry should contact the Idaho State Department of Agriculture, Animal Industries, at 208-332-8540. Management of avian influenza A in cats All cats with suspected avian influenza disease should be kept in strict isolation. Treatment is supportive and symptomatic. Human infections with the circulating strain of HPAI A(H5N1) can result in asymptomatic or mild infection to severe illness and death. To reduce the risk of transmission of avian influenza A(H5N1) to veterinary staff from sick cats which might have been exposed to avian influenza A(H5N1): • Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or indirect contact with the animal. • Wear PPE when handling the animal or cleaning the animal’s cage. o Safety goggles that fit snuggly (unvented or indirectly vented) or face shield, o An N95® respirator, o Disposable gloves, o Coveralls or other protective clothing such as a surgical gown that is disposable and fluid-resistant, o Disposable boot covers or boots that can be sanitized, and o Head cover or hair cover that is disposable. • Use particular care during aerosol-generating procedures. • Use an EPA-registered antimicrobial product effective against avian influenza. Talk to your healthcare provider if you become ill with new respiratory symptoms, including conjunctivitis, after working with animals suspected or confirmed with avian influenza A. See https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-in-humans.htm. Review the following CDC guidance documents: • Consideration for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling of Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/veterinarians-handling-cats.htm • Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Animals: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/hpai/hpai-interim-recommendations.html Additional resources • European Advisory Board on Cat Diseases: Guideline for influenza virus infections in cats. https://www.abcdcatsvets.org/guideline-for-influenza-virus-infections-in-cats/ • Influenza Virus Infections in Cats. Frymus T, Belák S, Egberink H, et al. Viruses. 2021;13(8):1435. doi:10.3390/v13081435 • CDC: H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm • USDA: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock • USDA: Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Birds. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds • ISDA: Highly Pathogenic Avian influenza in Detected in Idaho Cattle. https://agri.idaho.gov/main/animals/hpai/ • ISDA: Avian Influenza Resources [domestic birds] https://agri.idaho.gov/main/animals/avian-species/avian-disease/avian-influenza-resources/ https://health.dhw.idaho.gov/IDHAN/Form/Msg/Health_Msg_detailsprint.aspx?id=2216&loc2=sent

Nine H5N1 B3.13 cat sequences from 1 farm in Idaho (California H5N1 reportedly introduced via cows shipped to Idaho and returned) Speciman source for each cat sequence listed below = individual cow milk A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-001/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-002/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-003/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-004/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-005/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-006/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-007/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-008/2024 | 05/07/24 A/cat/Idaho/24-013710-009/2024 | 05/07/24

Raw Farm Bottling machine

May 10, 2003 Categories Tags By Pete Kennedy, Esq. Update, Winter 2015 The Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund has agreed to represent Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) over OPDC’s citizens petition to modify the interstate ban on raw butter. FTCLDF general counsel Gary Cox will be representing McAfee. The petition filed by OPDC founder and president Mark McAfee requests that “salted or cultured raw butter that is tested, state inspected, state regulated, carries a ‘government approved warning statement’, and labeled for retail sale in one state may be transported to another state if that other state allows the sale of unpasteurized dairy products.” McAfee had previously filed a petition to modify the interstate ban on raw milk but had abandoned that effort shortly after FDA rejected his petition in 2013 (see Update, Spring 2013 below). OPDC filed the raw butter petition on March 2, 2015 and has yet to receive an answer from FDA; under federal law the agency has six months to submit a response to a citizens petition. With the evidence provided in the petition it is difficult to see how raw butter could ever have been banned in interstate commerce. In response to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests filed by McAfee, neither the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) nor the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) could find a single case of foodborne illness being attributed to raw butter consumption; CDPH’s search went back 20 years while CDFA’s search went back 40. Further, according to the petition, “the CDC has no outbreaks, no cases of illness or death recorded in its databases related to commercially produced raw butter illness or pathogen defects.” The petition claims there is only one foodborne illness outbreak linked to non-commercially made butter. The petition points out that during the court case leading to the ban (Public Citizen v. Heckler), “there were no illness or evidence of risk presented on raw butter” and that the case actually involved only raw milk. McAfee also filed a FOIA request with FDA asking for any data or information on raw butter consumption being linked any case of human illness but has not received an answer. There is much at stake in the case; there are around 30 states that allow the sale of raw dairy products (usually milk and cheese aged 60 days). Most of these states do not allow the sale of raw butter, meaning that—if the petition were to be successful—there would be access for many consumers who currently cannot obtain it. The granting of the petition could also spur state legislatures to pass laws legalizing the sale of butter and other raw dairy products. It will be interesting to see what defense FDA has for banning a product that has a better track record for food safety than most “legal” foods. FTCLDF will be providing updates on the case as events warrant. Update, Winter 2014 On November 25, the FDA rejected a second citizen’s petition from Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) to modify the interstate ban on raw milk for human consumption (for more background on OPDC’s original citizen’s petition see the Spring 2013 update below). OPDC had requested that FDA amend the federal regulation banning raw milk to contain an exception reading: “Raw milk that is tested, state-inspected, state-regulated, carries a ‘government warning statement’ and labeled for retail sale in one state, may be transported to another state if that state allows the sale of unpasteurized milk and or dairy products.” In denying the latest OPDC petition, FDA continued its long history of disrespecting consumer freedom of choice. The agency also held to its double standard on raw milk requiring that there must be a guarantee of safety for it to be legal, something it doesn’t demand for any other food. In his letter rejecting the petition, Michael Landa, director of FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, stated “…there is no reliable method available to determine that raw milk, even from a state-regulated farm or raw milk manufacturer is or will be free of pathogens, or that raw milk from any such farm or manufacturer will not cause disease.” The second OPDC petition contained many more documented sources on raw milk safety and benefits than the original including studies finding raw milk reduces allergies and prevents asthma. In a rare admission, the FDA letter acknowledged: “In some studies, the association between raw milk consumption and reduced incidence of allergic disorders / asthma was found to be independent of other farm-related factors or living on a farm, and individuals reported to consume raw milk were found to have evidence of certain protective immune markers as a possible explanation for this association.” The letter, however, then downplays the importance of the studies by noting that they “do not always distinguish between raw milk and pasteurized milk” and that due to this and other related limitations in the studies “it cannot be concluded that raw milk was consumed alone and contributed to the stated associations.” In making its conclusion, FDA ignored the fact that in at least one of the cited studies the authors had specifically determined that milk which had not been heated had a greater protective effect. In its letter, FDA also tried to discredit a broad CDC survey finding 3 percent of the U.S. population regularly consumes raw milk by claiming that “the results of that survey may not be taken to mean that the survey respondents usually or regularly drink raw milk” because the question CDC used was whether people had consumed any unpasteurized milk in the seven days prior to their participation in the survey. FDA claims less than 1 percent of the population regularly consumes raw milk meaning the agency believes over two-thirds of the participants in the survey who said they drank raw milk only did so occasionally. Even though it is increasingly in the minority, the agency, in the letter, also stuck to its position that milk is milk and pasteurized milk and raw milk should not be regarded as two different products. This view enables FDA to distinguish between a “legal” food like oysters and milk; with the latter, according to the agency, having a practical measure to eliminate the “contamination”—pasteurization. FDA’s double standard on requiring a guarantee of raw milk safety is shown in the agency’s response to a report by the Michigan Fresh Unprocessed Whole Milk Workgroup in support of legal access to raw milk. The Michigan workgroup consisted of members of industry, academia, and government, as well as raw milk producers and consumers and spent over six years completing its work. FDA seized on a statement in the report that following the report’s guidelines on the production, handling and consumption of raw milk “will not guarantee that the produced and consumed milk will never be a vehicle for milk-borne illnesses.” According to the agency, the workgroup does not imply “standards will be an assurance that the (raw) milk will always be safe…the document does not address FDA’s safety concerns regarding raw milk.” The FDA letter is further proof that the agency continues to be the biggest threat to freedom of food choice. OPDC will be seeking a federal district court ruling overturning the denial of its petition. Update, Spring 2013 On February 26 FDA finally issued its response denying the citizens petition filed by Mark McAfee, president and founder of Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC), seeking to amend the regulation banning raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce. McAfee filed the petition in December 2008; federal law requires a response by the petitioned agency within six months from the time of filing. The petition would have modified the ban by adding to the regulation the statement, “raw milk that is tested, state inspected, state regulated, carries a ‘government warning statement’ and labeled for retail sale in one state may be transported to another state if that other state allows the sale of raw unpasteurized milk and/or dairy products.” In rejecting the petition, FDA relied on the record that led to the establishment of the ban twenty-five years ago, maintaining that the “petition fails to establish that current testing, state inspection, and state regulation programs can adequately mitigate the dangers posed by raw milk. This conclusion is in keeping with the 1987 rulemaking, in which FDA declined to permit the interstate distribution of certified raw milk, noting the association between the consumption of raw milk and the outbreak of disease.” In its letter denying the petition, FDA stated that no technological advances had been made to adequately substitute for pasteurization, remarking that raw milk producers would not use technology to reduce pathogens anyway because “many raw milk producers and advocates, including yourselves [McAfee and raw milk consumer and co-petitioner Christine Chessen] consider the bacteria present in raw milk, including pathogens which might be present, to be ‘beneficial bacteria.’” FDA rejected the assertion that warning labels would suffice instead of a ban. As it did in the initial rule-making establishing the ban, FDA continued its mantra that consumers need to be protected from themselves stating, “Consumers are not generally expected to take any additional steps to reduce the potential risk and are poorly equipped to assess the likelihood of infection. The infirm, the elderly, and the young are particularly susceptible to serious risks of infection presented by consuming raw milk and raw milk products and, in many cases, may not have the ability or opportunity to understand the risks identified in labeling.” While FDA was rejecting McAfee’s petition they were continuing their efforts to “protect” children by entertaining a petition from the National Milk Producer Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) that would allow “non-nutritive” sweeteners such as aspartame to be an ingredient in milk and seventeen other dairy products. The petition also requested that the presence of the non-nutritive sweeteners not be required to be included in the product label. NMPF and IDFA claim that school lunch programs would particularly benefit from the petition’s approval because the dairy products with aspartame would promote healthful eating habits for children and would reduce the incidence of childhood diabetes. Following the letter to McAfee were some twenty-three pages of documents detailing foodborne illnesses attributed to the consumption of raw milk products and recalls of raw dairy products. One document, “Table 5 – Outbreaks associated with raw milk and raw milk products in California 1971 to September 2012”, claimed the Jalisco cheese foodborne illness outbreak was associated with raw milk; in the Jalisco outbreak, forty-eight people died from listeriosis by consuming pasteurized cheese. FDA’s false claims are becoming more common among public health agencies these days with the stepped up campaign to discredit raw milk. The government knows greater numbers of consumers are ignoring its attacks against raw milk and are seeking access to the product. Update, Summer 2012 On May 10 the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued a press release announcing that raw milk, raw skim milk, raw cream and raw butter produced by Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) was being recalled and quarantined. The order came after raw cream produced by the dairy tested positive for campylobacter. This was the second recall and quarantine order for OPDC in six months (see Spring 2011, Winter 2011 and Spring 2012 updates below for background). In the press release, it was stated that “from January through April 30, 2012 the California Department of Public Health [CDPH] reports that at least ten people with campylobacter infection were identified throughout California and reported consuming Organic Pastures raw milk prior to illness onset.” On May 18, CDFA announced the quarantine was lifted; during the quarantine OPDC was prohibited from producing raw milk products for the retail market. According to Mark McAfee (OPDC’s founder and CEO), during a hearing with state officials, a CDPH employee reported that thirty-one cases of campylobacter “were received and processed by CDPH from consumers that had drank raw milk between January 1 and April 30, 2012.” None of those individuals consumed raw cream; none of the raw milk tested by CDPH was positive for campylobacter. McAfee further stated that a doctor from CDPH disclosed at the hearing that there are large numbers of campylobacter cases the department does not address but they do watch all the cases linked by consumer interviews to raw milk. Another disturbing aspect of the recall was the conduct of Los Angeles County public health officials. The LA County Department of Public Health (LA-DPH) received a list of OPDC customers in the county that had been shipped the dairy’s products via UPS. One customer on the list reported to McAfee that she received six or seven calls from the LA County health department demanding she turn over all OPDC raw milk she had in her possession. When she refused, investigators from LA-DPH showed up at her doorstep and again demanded she turn over her raw milk supply; she refused one more time and ordered them off her property. McAfee is hoping to have a hearing in the California Senate on CDFA’s and CDPH’s policy regarding the investigation of foodborne illness outbreaks. Officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) should be at the hearing as well to be better able to determine how much of the bias against raw milk by the state government is coming from federal pressure. Update, Spring 2012 After being under a quarantine order for a month that prohibited it from selling its raw dairy products, Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) resumed selling to the public on December 16 after the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) issued a press release announcing it had lifted the quarantine of OPDC (see Winter 2012 update below). That morning OPDC owner Mark McAfee had filed suit to lift the quarantine. McAfee resorted to the courts after CDFA had kept the quarantine on even when the dairy had passed inspection by the department and all testing done on OPDC products had come up negative. CDFA has tried to put McAfee out of business before and this looked like more of the same. The one product CDFA refused to let the dairy sell again was raw colostrum; prior to the quarantine, OPDC had sold the product as a dietary supplement which was not regulated by CDFA. McAfee blamed passage of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act for the change in the department’s position on colostrum and for the more hostile regulatory climate for raw foods that has since developed. Update, Winter 2011 On November 15 the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced a statewide recall of Organic Pastures Dairy products, ordering all product to be pulled from retail store shelves. CDFA also issued a quarantine order prohibiting OPDC, the nation’s largest raw milk dairy, from producing raw milk products until further notice. According to a press release issued by the department, “the quarantine order came following a notification from the California Department of Public Health of a cluster of five children who were infected, from August through October, with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. These children are residents of Coutra Costa, Kings, Sacramento and San Diego Counties. Interviews with the families indicate that the only common reported food exposure is unpasteurized (raw) milk from Organic Pastures dairy. Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome.” CDFA did admit that all OPDC product collected from the families of the ill children tested negative for E. coli O157:H7. The department’s investigation was unusual in that typically when a condition as serious as HUS results from a foodborne illness outbreak attributed to raw milk consumption the state informs the public in a much shorter period of time than it did in this case. Two questions not answered by either CDFA or the California Department of Public Health were (1) how many cases of food poisoning from E. coli O157:H7 were there in the state of California during the two month period and (2) was the strain of the pathogen found in the five ill children one commonly found in other foodborne illness outbreaks. On December 2 the quarantine was lifted and OPDC resumed production; if some additional testing CDFA was doing turned out to be negative, OPDC would be shipping within a week from the end of the quarantine. Mark McAfee, CEO of Organic Pastures and founding president of the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI), said the institute would not be affected by the shutdown. McAfee founded RAWMI earlier this year to provide common standards and training for raw milk producers. Update, Fall 2011 On November 15 the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) announced a statewide recall of Organic Pastures Dairy products, ordering all product to be pulled from retail store shelves. CDFA also issued a quarantine order prohibiting OPDC, the nation’s largest raw milk dairy, from producing raw milk products until further notice. According to a press release issued by the department, “the quarantine order came following a notification from the California Department of Public Health of a cluster of five children who were infected, from August through October, with the same strain of E. coli O157:H7. These children are residents of Coutra Costa, Kings, Sacramento and San Diego Counties. Interviews with the families indicate that the only common reported food exposure is unpasteurized (raw) milk from Organic Pastures dairy. Three of the five children were hospitalized with hemolytic uremic syndrome.” CDFA did admit that all OPDC product collected from the families of the ill children tested negative for E. coli O157:H7. The department’s investigation was unusual in that typically when a condition as serious as HUS results from a foodborne illness outbreak attributed to raw milk consumption the state informs the public in a much shorter period of time than it did in this case. Two questions not answered by either CDFA or the California Department of Public Health were (1) how many cases of food poisoning from E. coli O157:H7 were there in the state of California during the two month period and (2) was the strain of the pathogen found in the five ill children one commonly found in other foodborne illness outbreaks. On December 2 the quarantine was lifted and OPDC resumed production; if some additional testing CDFA was doing turned out to be negative, OPDC would be shipping within a week from the end of the quarantine. Mark McAfee, CEO of Organic Pastures and founding president of the Raw Milk Institute (RAWMI), said the institute would not be affected by the shutdown. McAfee founded RAWMI earlier this year to provide common standards and training for raw milk producers. Update, Spring 2011 On February 24 Federal Judge Sandra Snyder ordered that the motion of Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) to withdraw its guilty plea to two counts of “introduction and delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of misbranded food” (that is, selling for human consumption food labeled for animal consumption) be granted. In December 2008, OPDC had entered into a plea bargain with the United States where sentencing on the guilty plea was delayed for twenty-four months, with the dairy being allowed to withdraw its guilty plea if it committed no further violations during that time. [See Summer and Fall 2008 updates below for background on the case.] The February 24 order also granted the motion of the United States to dismiss with prejudice the same charges against OPDC’s founder and president, Mark McAfee. McAfee had pled innocent to the charges in January 2009 with the U.S. government agreeing to defer prosecution for twenty-four months and to drop the charges if no violations were committed during that time. In the meantime, McAfee has yet to hear from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on his petition to the agency to modify the federal regulation banning raw milk for human consumption in interstate commerce. The petition requests FDA issue a rule permitting the sale of raw milk from one state where the sale is legal to another state where the sale is also legal. The law requires that FDA respond to a petition no later than six months from the time of its filing; McAfee filed the petition in December 2008. Update, Spring 2009 On January 9 under a plea bargain agreement, Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) pleaded guilty in a federal district court to two misdemeanor counts of “introduction and delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of misbranded food.” (See Summer and Fall 2008 updates below for background on the case.) Under the plea bargain, sentencing was postponed for twenty-four months. If the dairy commits no further violations during that time, OPDC will be free to withdraw its guilty plea and the government will cease its prosecution of the case. At the same time OPDC entered its plea, the company’s founder and president Mark McAfee pleaded innocent to the same charges and the government agreed to defer prosecution for twenty-four months. If no violations are committed during that time, the prosecution will drop the charges. Still to be worked out between the dairy and the FDA was a memorandum of understanding between the two parties specifying the terms and conditions under which OPDC could sell raw milk for animal consumption in interstate commerce. The agency is willing to let the dairy ship across state lines to zoos, veterinary practices and research labs; but the requirements FDA wants to impose on the dairy and its customers are so onerous that Mark has, for now, decided to halt all shipments of raw milk in interstate commerce. For instance, the agency wants those purchasing raw milk from outside California to “destroy or return to OPDC any unused product…[and] provide OPDC with documented accounting of all quantities destroyed within 15 days of destruction.” Penalties for violations of this and other conditions FDA wants to impose on the dairy and its out-of-state customers could be up to $250,000 in fines and five years’ imprisonment or both. Negotiations between the dairy and the FDA are ongoing. As of this time, there has been no resolution to the civil complaint the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Fresno has filed against OPDC for distributing misbranded raw milk and raw milk products in interstate commerce. (See Winter 2008 update below for background on the case.) Update, Winter 2008 Growing numbers of consumers who want to obtain raw milk these days can find a source without much trouble. That being said, there is a continuing campaign by state and federal governments to either eliminate or reduce producer access to consumers who want raw milk. FDA is at the center of the effort to effectively deny consumers their legal right to consume raw dairy products. This update begins with the latest development in FDA’s attempt to completely shut down the interstate raw dairy sales of Organic Pastures Dairy Company, the nation’s largest raw milk retailer. On November 20, 2008, the federal government, through the U.S. Attorney in Fresno, filed a civil complaint to permanently enjoin Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) and its CEO Mark McAfee from distributing raw milk and raw milk products in interstate commerce. The complaint alleged that OPDC was delivering misbranded food into interstate commerce because products labeled as pet food were being knowingly sold for human consumption. The suit also alleged that OPDC was delivering new drugs into interstate commerce. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) any product is considered a drug if it is “intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease.” Under the Act a new drug is any drug “the composition of which is such that such drug is not generally recognized, among experts qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of drugs, as safe and effective for use under the conditions prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the labeling thereof.” The complaint charges that OPDC’s website, brochures and other promotional materials, as well as at least one website which has a “hot link” to OPDC’s website, all contain claims that OPDC products can “cure, mitigate, treat or prevent various diseases” including, but not limited to, asthma, eczema, psoriasis and arthritis. According to the complaint, the health claims made by the dairy for its products would make it guilty of not filing a new drug application as required by the FFDCA. The suit seeks to enjoin OPDC from “directly and indirectly introducing and delivering for introduction . . . into interstate commerce raw milk and raw milk products in any form.” The attorneys handling the case for the federal government have made clear to the dairy that this includes OPDC’s dairy products with colostrum. McAfee’s position is that under federal law colostrum is neither milk nor a raw milk product but rather a dietary supplement not subject to the prohibition on raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption in interstate commerce. The civil complaint is independent of the criminal investigation into OPDC [see Wise Traditions, Summer and Fall 2008 issues]. OPDC’s attorney, Gary Cox (General Counsel for the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund), continues to be in negotiations with U.S. Attorney’s office in Fresno over a possible settlement in the criminal case. Update, Summer 2008, California and OPDC Federal Grand Jury Investigation One example of FDA’s now more active role against raw milk can be seen in the agency’s activities carried out in California. In 2004 from April 5-9, FDA conducted an inspection of Organic Pastures Dairy Corporation (OPDC) in Fresno, California. Through that inspection and the subsequent investigation, the agency determined that OPDC was distributing unpasteurized milk and milk products in interstate commerce for human consumption. On February 24, 2005, the agency sent a warning letter to Mark McAfee (CEO of OPDC) warning him that such distribution was in violation of federal law [21 CFR 1240.61]. The law prohibits unpasteurized milk and milk products in final package form in interstate commerce for human consumption; however, there is no prohibition on raw pet dairy products in interstate commerce. McAfee responded to the warning letter by sending the agency a copy of the labels he intended to affix to unpasteurized dairy products shipped in interstate commerce. The labels indicated that the products were for “cat or dog food only.” The agency answered McAfee’s response by referring him to an FDA guidance document on marketing a pet food product. The document stated that “there is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by FDA.” The agency had no other response to the labels McAfee submitted; in effect FDA gave its tacit approval for OPDC to proceed with shipping raw dairy products in interstate commerce with the new labels. FDA did not tell OPDC that the company must drop all out-of-state customers known to be purchasing for human consumption nor did it tell OPDC to verify whether future customers were purchasing for pet consumption only. Nor did FDA tell the dairy that it would be violating the law if it sold product labeled for pet consumption to out-of-state customers when it had knowledge that those customers would be using it instead for human consumption. On March 19, 2008 (more than three years after responding to FDA’s warning letter), Mark discovered that OPDC was the subject of a federal grand jury investigation, an investigation instigated by FDA and centered primarily on the company’s sale of raw pet dairy products in interstate commerce. On that day, two OPDC employees, who had earlier received subpoenas to testify before a US District Court grand jury in Fresno, were paid a visit at their homes by two FDA special agents from the agency’s Office of Criminal Investigations. The agents questioned the employees about the dairy’s sale of raw milk and colostrum in interstate commerce (colostrum can legally be sold in interstate commerce as a dietary supplement for human consumption). The agents asked one of the employees to wear a wire; the employee refused. Mark responded to the news of the investigation by contacting David Gumpert who, in turn, posted a story about the grand jury investigation on his blog (www.thecompletepatient.com), “Of Nighttime Agent Visits, Phone Tapes, and Secret Wires: Now OPDC Is Target of a Grand Jury Investigation into Raw Milk” (March 20, 2008). Shortly thereafter, Mark’s attorneys contacted the US Attorney’s office in Fresno offering to share documents and other exculpatory evidence in an attempt to dissuade the US Attorney from continuing the grand jury investigation. Apparently in response to the offer, the US Attorney cancelled the grand jury testimony of the two employees and temporarily suspended the proceedings of the grand jury. As of this time, the grand jury remains suspended. It appears that FDA is trying to have Mark prosecuted for misbranding under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. “Misbranding,” in this case under FDA’s apparent interpretation of the law, would be knowingly selling products for human consumption that were labeled for pet consumption only. What is unjust about FDA’s action is that in 2005, it made it apparent to McAfee that he was in compliance with the law as long as he labeled his products for pet food only. Update, Summer 2007 The drama never seems to end! The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has come up with a new tactic to harass Organic Pastures Dairy. While the raw dairy product bacteria counts have been perfect for months when counted at the creamery, CDFA is now testing Organic Pastures’ bacteria counts (the beneficial counts, the pro-biotic good bacteria) after the product has been on the retailers’ shelves for a week. As Mark McAfee puts it, “Retailers’ shelf temperatures are great for keeping dead food fresh (so called fresh) and do very little to keep living foods asleep. The temperatures are too warm and bacteria counts go up with time.” On March 22nd CDFA inspectors took Organic Pastures products from a Save Mart in Fresno, California and tested them for bacteria count. Of course, the counts were higher than when they were taken at the creamery and the milk failed the tests. Products from other dairies were not tested, just those from Organic Pastures. The products still tasted fresh but were at the 100,000-200,000 level, actually not bad for a week at higher-than-optimal temperatures. When the products left the dairy, the counts were 3,000-5,000. CDFA did not tell Organic Pastures about the test results but instead served Save Mart with a registered mail notice that the store was in violation of food statutes and could not sell the illegal raw milk. This did not come about after illness or consumer complaints. This happened because CDFA changed the testing protocol. They could not stop Organic Pastures at the dairy so they are trying to do this at the stores. Never before had CDFA tested raw milk at the shelf. This could very well indicate a whole new way of damaging consumer access to raw milk. CDFA is now using threats against the retailers as a way to reduce access to raw milk and not involving the dairy at all. Organic Pastures was able to deal with the situation by demanding that CDFA provide a pathway back onto the shelf. CDFA had to comply and provided the perfect creamery bacteria counts to the stores and the product is now back in the affected ten stores. Remember that the stores could not clear themselves because they had no product to test to gain clearance. A true Catch 22! Meanwhile, thousands of dollars worth of product was thrown away and the store was scared to death by a threatening letter they received from the state. Update, Jan. 24, 2007 Organic Pastures Dairy Company (OPDC) raw milk products are back on the shelves following a recall in September. The recall occurred during the midst of the spinach contamination scare and seemed to be aimed at deflecting attention from the huge problems of E.coli O157:H7 contamination in produce. The state claimed that five raw milk-drinking children became ill, two of whom were hospitalized, given antibiotics and almost died. (The other three received no antibiotics and recovered quickly.) A team dressed in protective gear tested and retested the cows, the milk and the manure on the farm and found zero pathogens. On September 29th, more than 200 people from around the state showed up at OPDC to show their support for Organic Pastures products, and defend their right to choose what they eat. At the rally/press conference, Mark McAfee signed and victoriously displayed no less than nine CDFA documents releasing the company from quarantine and retracting the recent product recall. Lawsuits against several officials in the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CFDA) are in the works. All the publicity has lead to an increase in sales of about 12 percent. Update, Oct. 23, 2006 by Mark McAfee Three critical objectives have been identified in order to permanently protect raw milk for California ’s future. Raw Milk laws must be updated. In order to protect consumers and raw milk producers old Certified Raw Milk laws controlled by physicians ( Food & Ag Code #35921-35928 ) that are already on the books must be updated. California ’s Raw Milk supply would then be supervised by a board of “doctors, veterinarians and consumers” and not the CDFA. This would permit all raw dairy products to be produced including cultured raw butter, crème cheese, and Raw Milk Kefir….and even fresh cheeses and ice-cream. Currently these laws are not accessible because of certification authorities. An updating change could be very rapid. Currently CDFA and the Grade A standards govern raw milk in California . These standards permit a very narrow range of raw dairy products. The bias shown by CDFA has jeopardized the availability of even these products. This updated Certified Raw Milk law would focus on food safety and not on political obstructions to raw milk. We have commitments from Dr. Paul Fleiss director of the AAMMC (president of the certified raw milk medical commission ) to get this done immediately. This does not require an act of congress but just a change in AAMMC Commission Bylaws. Legal protection must be provided. In the last few weeks ( and the last several years as well ), OPDC has withstood a massively biased and unfounded attack on its business. Recently, you have felt this personally with the loss of your raw milk supply. During this period, OPDC was falsely accused of making four children ill. NO evidence has been produced (even though OPDC attorneys have requested it ) to show that in fact four children’s fecal samples tested positive for the same DNA of Ecoli 0157. Comprehensive testing pointed to other sources for the illnesses. From the CDFA and media reports it would appear that OPDC had critically injured four kids. This is not true at all. Only two children were hospitalized and they have fully recovered. These two children’s parents freely admit that other sources of food contamination were probably the source of illness including spinach and sushi. The truth was never told in the media or by CDFA. These government agencies have an agenda that goes far beyond food safety. They hate raw milk and want it gone from California . No one will ever know how close California citizens came to losing raw milk permanently. At one point CDFA threatened to shorten shelf life of raw dairy products to just three days. This single act would have eliminated raw milk in California from any source including Claravale. A media blitz and hundreds of calls from angry consumers to the state threatened a “tell all” media press release by Mark McAfee and OPDC. That threat lifted the siege. The CDFA brand assassins bullet hit very close…Harassment continues even after the recall was lifted. Inspectors arrived at Farmers Markets in LA and attempted to shut down sales of raw milk even though “all legal reinstatement papers” were presented. Directed legal action must start immediately to stop biased harassment and unfounded actions. OPDC lost more than $250,000 over the recall and will not be compensated for its losses. Even though CDFA attorney promised OPDC attorney that if OPDC cooperated, that all products would be back on shelves in five days and costs of the recall would be covered by CDFA. Neither of these promises ever happened. Suits must start immediately to recover losses and stop the harassment. Freedom to Speak about Freedom to Eat. OPDC was fined $20,000 dollars by the CA Department of Health Services earlier this year because OPDC posted email testimonials received from its consumers about the wonderful life giving and healing properties of raw milk at its website. DHA argued that this is not protected by freedom of speech and that OPDC was making medical claims that had not been approved by the FDA. According to DHS only drugs cure disease. Under current laws consumers can not share their experiences with lactose intolerance or asthma or any other medical condition being resolved by the consumption of raw milk. To make sharing testimonials legal, OPDC has established relationships with other entities that will post consumer testimonials. This raw milk freedom BLOG will allow OPDC consumers to freely post their testimonials. A link to this BLOG will be established at the OPDC website. This is legal and will give raw milk consumers a Freedom to Speak about their Freedom to Eat. This will become a huge educational resource for new raw milk consumers to hear directly from established raw milk drinkers. A data base of all raw milk consumers email addresses will be kept to assure immediate reaction to any challenges should they arise. We have carefully considered using a non profit organization, foundations, consumer advocacy groups and others to achieve these goals. In the final assessment, it was determined that OPDC should carry this ball directly with its consumers. No other organization would be as passionate, focused or as economically efficient in accomplishing these goals. The time has come. Consumers need to understand that they must contribute dollars into this effort. If living, whole, bio-diverse, enzyme rich, healing raw milk is going to be continually available for all consumers… all consumers must contribute. This is not an option. OPDC barely survived an attempt on your raw milks life!! We must not sit back and drink our delicious raw milk and enjoy our day! This is just a lull in the raging battle. We must remember the near death experience and act now. The next round could be the last round for California Raw Milk if we do not act immediately. My grandfather once described intelligence as the ability to foresee challenges in the future and doing something about these challenges in the present. As the old saying goes…if we do not hang together… we will surely hang one by one. To achieve these objectives OPDC has founded a new department at the dairy called: People Powered by Raw Milk. PPRM is tasked to accomplish the goals stated above. To fund the activities PPRM will begin selling shirts for $150 dollars each ( or as much as you are able to contribute ). As a contributor you will receive your choice of OPDC shirts with various messages printed on them. We are able to take credit cards, checks and cash for the shirts. Our goal is to establish a People Powered Raw Milk War Chest of $500,000 dollars to immediately accomplish the goals and changes as described. Your $150 secures the future of Raw Milk. This may seem to be a lot of money… and it is. Think of this as people moving a huge mountain. That is what CDFA and the pasteurized milk lobby is…a huge mountain of money and processed milk power. We can deal with this mountain if we are smart and just find a way around it. We prefer not to fight but rather maneuver. Kind of like energy and motion in Karate. By staying focused and moving quickly we can and will protect raw milk for California . A pathway has already been discovered. We must just find the courage to move right now. This is not cheap. If thousands of raw milk consumers sent in $150 dollars each, the goal would be quickly accomplished. Also, the shirts that would be worn across the state would demonstrate our resolve and further carry the message. $150 dollars is a very small amount to pay for our raw milk security. You have asked the question and we have developed an answer. It is now up to you to act quickly so you do not suffer repeated interruptions of raw milk availability. A tally of the amount collected will be kept at www.organicpastures.com website. Updates on progress will also be given at the PPRM department at OPDC. Please contact 1-877 RAW MILK and order your raw milk shirt. Several statements are available in different colors and sizes. Wendy is the manager of PPRM and is awaiting your call. Lets create a raw milk voice for change right now. OPDC can not and should not do this all by its self. After nearly three weeks of shut down OPDC is digging deep just to survive the losses inflicted unjustly by CDFA. PPRM is acting for all of you who enjoy and depend on raw milk. This is something that must come from consumers. We are very serious and ask that you all take this opportunity to act and protect your raw milk source and choice. These changes and protections will also protect Claravale as well. All raw milk is subject to future biased and unfounded acts by CDFA. Lets raise some real money and lead the smart fight for raw milk freedom and freedom to eat for ourselves and our families. 1-877 RAW MILK for credit transactions Or make checks payable to: OPDC c/o People Powered by Raw Milk 7221 So. Jameson, Fresno CA 93706 Update Aug. 24, 2005 Organic Pastures now has a new distributor which is putting their raw milk in 500 stores up from 225. Demand is so great that they are selling all of their milk from about 330 cows, which graze on pasture and are even milked in the pasture via a portable milking parlor. Update, Nov. 18, 2004 Several years ago, the Los Angeles County Board of Health banned sales in the county. Consumer advocates fought back and won a victory when the County Board of Commissioners voted to overrule the Board of Health. One of California’s two raw milk producers (Organic Pastures) is milking over 300 pasture-fed cows, and raw milk, butter, cream, cheese and colostrum are available in many natural foods stores throughout the state. The other, smaller farm, Claravale Dairy in Watsonville, provides raw milk and cream to San Francisco Bay area natural foods stores. Claravale’s Jersey cows graze on many acres of green pastures—with an ocean view. Update, Fall 2003–Breakthrough in California: Organic Pastures Dairy, which supplies raw milk, butter and cream in health food stores and gourmet markets in California, has just announced that the Department of Health Services for the State of California has approved a special label request. The label was approved for a product called “certified organic raw milk with colostrum,” bottled by Organic Pastures Dairy Company. This raw super milk will not be subject to federal interstate transport restrictions because colostrum is prohibited in milk. This special milk can be sold anywhere regardless of local raw milk laws. Dairy inspectors have no legal authority over the production and sale of this milk product. It is not a dairy product and falls specifically outside of regulations. It is a nutritional supplement. The product is authorized under CA DHS permit # G-13-70876 under a special proprietary arrangement and protocol negotiated by the dairy. The new product looks and tastes just like regular raw milk. Organic Pastures Dairy can now fulfill requests for its product in states outside California, such as Nevada and New Mexico. The new Department of Health Services ruling opens the door to making raw milk again available for retail sales in all states. Update, May 10, 2003 Organic Pastures Dairy has been recently tested by CDFA and no pathogens were found anywhere (all products and over 32 points were swab-tested in the plant)—the cow manure was even tested. UC Davis researchers sampled cow manure and did not find any human pathogens. The researchers attribute the lack of pathogens to the stress-free green pastures and lack of antibiotics given to the cows. Organic Pastures is perhaps the most tested dairy in the USA. They are inspected by the USDA, CCOF ( organic certifier ) CDFA, The Fresno County Department of Health and the California Department of Health Services. All lab test information is posted to the website at www.organicpastures.com The fresh colostrum produced by Organic Pastures has recently been shipped to Beijing, China to assist in the fight against SARS. Fresh raw colostrum contains the antibodies for bovine coronovirus and many other antibodies that help build immunity. Bovine coronovirus has been found in the SARS complex. Organic Pastures colostrum is now going international in the effort to keep people healthy. Update, Spring 2002 Things are looking very bright in California with the recent vote by the Los Angeles City Council to liberalize raw milk regulations for the County of Los Angeles, a move that allows the sale of raw milk in California once again and greatly expands the market for any raw milk producer in the state. As we predicted, new producers are coming along. Joining our beloved Claravale Dairy with raw milk sales is Organic Pastures of Kerman, California. According to Mark McAfee, managing partner of the 350-cow dairy, the herd is fully grass-fed on a rotational grazing program. McAfee uses a 20-cow portable milking parlor that he designed himself which can be moved from pasture to pasture. This system has resulted in excellent cow health and a fantastic average standard platelet cell count of 1,100. (Pasteurized milk is allowed a platelet count of 3,000.) The herd is mostly Holstein but Jersey cows are being added in. This is the first time that we can say that RealMilk (unprocessed, full-fat and pasture-fed) is being sold commercially in the US. The milk is available in many stores and the dairy plans to add raw cream, raw butter, yoghurt and colostrum to the product line. If your local health food store does not yet carry Organic Pastures milk, contact Organic Pastures at 559-846-9732 or [email protected] to discuss the possibilities of providing it. The enlightened situation in California, where raw milk has been commercially available off and on for many years, is our goal for all states. Any state government official who persists in the inane assertion that the public must be protected from this healthy product needs to be reminded of the California example. https://www.realmilk.com/organic-pastures-dairy-company/

Health 03 December 2024 California Cracks Down On Raw Milk Amid Bird Flu Outbreak Health officials suspend sales of contaminated raw milk and warn consumers of potential risks California is grappling with growing concerns over bird flu contamination linked to raw milk products. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) recently announced the suspension of operations for Raw Farm LLC, based in Fresno County, after bird flu was detected during routine testing. This situation has raised alarms within public health circles, prompting heightened scrutiny and advisories for consumers. The health warning centers around cream-top whole raw milk from Raw Farm, following the identification of bird flu virus samples found at retail locations. Officials urge consumers not to drink the affected products, emphasizing the risks unpasteurized milk poses. "Out of abundance of caution, and due to the virus's continued spread among avian populations, it’s best to avoid any raw milk from affected batches," stated health representatives. Despite no reported human illnesses stemming from this specific contamination, state health officials are taking proactive measures to prevent potential cases. Testing for the H5N1 bird flu is ramping up, with CDFA’s inspectors collecting samples from bulk tanks and bottled products. The urgency is underscored by the fact California has seen the highest number of human cases related to bird flu within the United States, with many connected to exposure from infected dairy cattle. The Chief of the Biological Control Division, Steve Lyle, confirmed, "We have quarantined all operations at Raw Farm, which means all distribution of its raw milk products is halted. We're taking this matter very seriously." There have been calls for immediate action as the dairy industry faces pressures from this alarming situation. Adding to the controversy, among those endorsing the safety of raw milk is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy, who has been vocal about the benefits of raw milk consumption, faces skepticism due to the current public health risks. On social media, he emphasized the nutritional advantages of raw milk, rallying support from proponents who echo his sentiments. Unfortunately, the science paints a different picture. Public health experts and organizations like the CDC have continuously warned against consuming raw milk. Research indicates raw milk products carry risks of serious illness from pathogens, including E. coli and Salmonella. A distinct challenge arises when considering the potential presence of bird flu issues within dairy operations, particularly as the H5N1 strain has not only affected birds but has potentially crossed over to livestock. Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, pointed out, "Unpasteurized milk should be approached with skepticism, especially amid rising reports of zoonotic diseases, which may include various strains of influenza. When we’re talking about food safety, pasteurization is not just preferable; it’s necessary." With various dairy farms affected, the prevalence of H5N1 has confirmed its presence across multiple states, with California reporting over 475 outbreaks. Their concentrated nature raises fears local consumers might unknowingly consume contaminated dairy products. Many health experts echo similar warnings as testing continues to yield results. The situation is compounded by the movement advocating for raw milk and its reputed health benefits. Consumers may find themselves caught between alluring marketing strategies and public health realities. The state's CDPH has urged those who may still possess Raw Farm products to return them to retailers for refunds. Meanwhile, pasteurized milk remains the safer alternative enjoying broad support from health authorities. The health department cautioned, "While no confirmed human cases associated with the Raw Farm products have been identified, consumers should be aware of the serious risks connected to unpasteurized milk." Interested citizens are encouraged to monitor updates from the CDPH and opt for pasteurized dairy to safeguard against health threats. Raw Farm, addressing supply chain interruptions stemming from the voluntary recall, released statements indicating it is cooperating fully with state investigations. Aaron McAfee, president of Raw Farm, acknowledged the inconvenience caused to consumers but emphasized his team's dedication to regulatory compliance. “We are committed to transparency and will keep our customers updated throughout this process,” he stated via social media. Public health officials continue to investigate the extent of the situation, ensuring thorough testing protocols are enforced to safeguard consumer health. The suspension of Raw Farm’s operations signals the need for strict adherence to safety standards, particularly as the public remains alert to the risks associated with raw milk consumption. Authorities state they will maintain regular testing of dairy products, particularly following this incident. The invasive approach aims to restore consumer confidence and uphold food safety regulations. Meanwhile, the larger issue of raw milk advocacy remains under scrutiny as new health concerns surface, potentially affecting legislative discussions around the sale and consumption of unpasteurized milk. Overall, consumers are reminded to prioritize their health and safety. The risk of foodborne illnesses can be minimized through proper food handling and product choice, particularly during times of heightened public health concern. Educated decisions can mean the difference between health and illness, driving home the importance of choosing pasteurized over raw as the situation evolves. https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/california-cracks-down-on-raw-milk-amid-bird-flu-outbreak-74956

No extra charge for the H5N1

Organic Pastures – “Where There is Smoke, There is Fire.” By Botulism Attorney on April 23, 2008 Posted in Legal Cases I was paging through the pages of the Ethicurean when I stumbled over this post: Amanda kicks over the raw-milk bucket For a slightly different perspective on Ms. Roses’ post see the Complete Patient. It is very unlikely that that source of the E. coli-contamination in 2006 was milk sourced from another supplier, but even if it was, Organic Pastures, as the manufacturer of the milk and milk product that all of the children consumed, would still be on the hook for the injuries to those children. It was not spinach as Organic Pastures has tried to spin it. Also, Organic Pastures has spun the State’s payment to it of money to compensate for the 2006 recall as an admission that the outbreak did not occur – not so – see attached. As I read the Ethicurean post and Ms. Roses’ too, I was struck by the thought: “where there is smoke, there is fire.” Organic Pastures has been linked to an E. coli Outbreak, Campylobacter Outbreak, Listeria Recall (each are links to reports) and is subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. Now, it also appears that Organic Pastures may have been serving up raw milk to its consumers that was out-sourced. Perhaps Organic Pastures has just become another corporate giant (certainly in the milk field) concerned with one thing – making a buck. (See video of OP owner talking about sales as the driving force) I’m just glad I am not Organic Pastures’ lawyer – I would have a very big headache. See also, "Top litigator fires a shot across the bow of raw milk industry." https://www.marlerblog.com/legal-cases/organic-pastures-pleads-guilty-in-shipping-of-raw-milk-mark-mcafee-owner-of-organic-pastures-still/

Note the the current Raw Farm in Fresno County is 5 miles from Kerman.

Organic Pastures pleads guilty in shipping of Raw Milk – Mark McAfee, owner of Organic Pastures, still defiant By E. coli Attorney on December 23, 2008 The Kerman-based dairy that has been linked to bacterial illnesses and recalls, on Monday agreed to plead guilty to shipping misbranded food — in this case, raw milk labeled for pet use that instead was consumed by people — across state lines. According to the Fresno Bee – In a plea agreement filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Fresno, Organic Pastures agreed to, among other things: 1) Organic Pastures Dairy in Kerman is one of only two raw-milk producers in California, 2) Stop shipping unpasteurized raw milk across state lines, 3) Put a notice on its Web site within two weeks that it no longer will sell raw-milk products outside of California, 4) Notify, in writing, any out-of-state customers from the past year that the dairy no longer will offer raw milk or raw-milk products, and 5) Allow the federal Food and Drug Administration to, without prior notice, make inspections of the dairy. Perhaps more disturbing are these comments by Mr. McAfee on the Complete Patient: Let me be very clear…. I am not a pacifist and there is a tipping point at which activism and defense of the rights of my home, my food, my freedom and my family takes precidence over peaceful politically appropriate action with cameras and playing along while you get raped. . . . Another Wounded Knee, Ruby Ridge or Waco could easily happen in America because of police abuse, massive unemployment, corruption, Wallstreet rip offs, denial of the right to food etc. . . . I also believe that each and every mentally and emotionally stable free American should know how to shoot and shoot well and that those Americans that choose to do so should own a gun and appreciate its place in history and freedom. On of my fondest memories was visiting Switzerland in 1983 and seeing a youth with a machine gun on his back going to the shooting range on a moped. I thought to myself….no body will ever mess with his rights. Homes in Switzerland have huge machine SIG guns and everyone knows how to use them. There is little violence in that land and the crime rate is nill. Cops thoughtfully enter homes after asking politely and do not brandish weapons like Miami Vice. . . . I shoot and own guns….but you will never see them displayed or used against cops or any person. Until the tipping point. At that point my life is then the value which must be laid down in the balance and it is worth giving in trade. . . . Remember, those that live by the sward can also die by it. If you raise a gun in anger expect to pay a dear price at some point. Mark McAfee https://www.marlerblog.com/legal-cases/organic-pastures-pleads-guilty-in-shipping-of-raw-milk-mark-mcafee-owner-of-organic-pastures-still/

Raw Farms founder, Mark McAfee, said the state has placed his dairy under quarantine, meaning he’s not allowed to move any cattle off his property or sell any of his popular brand of raw milk products. The only exception is raw milk cheese made before the quarantine was enacted on Thanksgiving day. It is unclear how long the quarantine will remain in effect. Officials with the California Department of Food and Agriculture could not be reached for comment Monday. Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article296444839.html#storylink=cpy McAfee is allowed to sell milk from his 1,800-cow dairy to a processor who will pasteurize it and use it in different products, including milk or cheese. Pasteurization is used in conventional milk production to kill any harmful bacteria or viruses, including avian flu. The temporary shut down comes at a critical time for McAfee, whose dairy was reporting record sales of raw milk, despite warnings from state and federal health officials about the dangers of drinking raw milk. One Raw Farm’s fan said she was lucky to find their raw milk at her Sprouts Farmers Market store in the East Bay area. McAfee said the state allowed him to sell any existing product still in the stores. Read more at: https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/article296444839.html#storylink=cpy

In his email to Ars, McAfee sent a third document, a "press package," that said the company is optimistic that raw milk will soon become more accepted. (The document also says that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an influenza virus. That is false. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus.)

Raw risk assessment Raw milk producer optimistic after being shut down for bird flu detection A second lot of milk was recalled after testing of retail products came back positive. Beth Mole – Dec 3, 2024 7:15 AM | 7 Credit: Raw Farm Bird flu has landed on a California farm that shuns virus-killing pasteurization, leading to a second recall of raw milk and a suspension of operations at the company, Raw Farm in Fresno County. According to a November 27 alert by the California health department, officials in Santa Clara County found evidence of bird flu virus in retail samples of a batch of Raw Farm's milk, which has been recalled. It is the second time that retail testing has turned up positive results for the company and spurred a recall. The first contaminated batch was reported on November 24. The two recalled batches are those with lot codes 20241109 ("Best By" date of November 27, 2024) and 20241119 (Best By date of December 7, 2024). In an email to Ars on Monday, Raw Farm CEO Mark McAfee said that none of the company's cows are visibly sick but that it appears that asymptomatic cows are shedding the avian influenza virus. After the first recall, a representative for Raw Farm said in a video posted to its YouTube account that the risk of bird flu was "not a big deal." In the email on Monday, McAfee seemed to suggest the same. Risky arguments McAfee shared documents arguing that bird flu-contaminated raw milk does not pose a risk. One document was said to contain responses from "ChatGBT" that suggested that bioactive components of raw milk could inactivate influenza viruses. However, the chatbot responses also noted that "inactivation of flu viruses in raw milk specifically hasn’t been extensively studied" and raw milk "carries a risk of bacterial contamination." Multiple studies have found that raw milk from cows infected with bird flu can contain high levels of the live, infectious virus. The testing on Raw Farm's milk so far involved PCR (polymerase chain reaction), a test that detects genetic fragments of the virus. PCR tests can't determine if the genetic fragments are from live viruses or dead ones. McAfee insists that the tests were picking up an inactivated virus. Tests that detect infectious viruses are now being done, and results are expected in the coming days. "We are shut down due to testing results showing DEAD VIRUS PIECES in some of our samples. Nothing alive," McAfee said, despite the fact that testing for live virus is still pending. "We are testing and will have more data soon," he added. Another document McAfee sent was an assessment from Margaret E. (Peg) Coleman, a microbiologist and raw milk advocate, who argues, among other things, that there is a lack of evidence of milk-borne transmission of bird flu viruses, specifically high pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI). That includes H5N1, an HPAI that is currently causing an unprecedented nationwide outbreak in US dairy cattle. Human infections On this point, Coleman isn't wrong. The outbreak of H5N1, which was declared in March, is the first time an HPAI has been detected in US cows. And the outbreak has been like no other seen anywhere in the world before. As such, there are many questions and unknowns about the risk the dairy outbreak poses to humans, including whether people can be infected with the virus by drinking high levels of it in milk. To date, no human infections have been linked to Raw Farm's raw milk. However, real-world evidence from H5N1 infections in dairy workers strongly indicates that people can become infected from milk. To date, at least 34 dairy workers in the US have developed H5N1 infections after working with infected cows. The workers' infections are largely thought to occur via milk, including from having milk splashed in their eyes or touching their faces with milk-contaminated hands. One of the most common symptoms among dairy workers is conjunctivitis, aka pink eye. In its alert last week, the California health department warned that while pasteurization effectively kills bird flu, raw milk consumers are at risk of the virus, writing: "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. Symptoms of bird flu infection in humans include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing and fever. Anyone who has consumed these specific [Raw Farm] products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department." Raw milk’s future Still, amid the bird flu risk, advocates of raw milk have only fortified their support for the beverage, which has no proven health benefits and carries various infectious disease risks. In his email to Ars, McAfee sent a third document, a "press package," that said the company is optimistic that raw milk will soon become more accepted. (The document also says that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an influenza virus. That is false. SARS-CoV-2 is a coronavirus.) According to the document, anti-vaccine advocate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, who Trump has picked to be the US health secretary, is a Raw Farm customer. (Kennedy has previously stated he is a raw milk drinker.) Further, Raw Farm says that McAfee "has been asked by the RFK transition team to apply for the position of 'FDA advisor on Raw Milk Policy and Standards Development.'" "With RFK being appointed to head the [Department of Health and Human Services] ... it is certain that decades old FDA anti-raw-milk policies will shift soon," the Raw Farm document reads. "Raw Farm is the largest producer of raw milk in the world and stands at the battlefront of this transitional event. Our friends in the regulatory community privately share that recent raw milk pressures are intense and immense." Beth Mole Senior Health Reporter Beth is Ars Technica’s Senior Health Reporter. Beth has a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and attended the Science Communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She specializes in covering infectious diseases, public health, and microbes. https://arstechnica.com/health/2024/12/raw-milk-producer-optimistic-after-being-shut-down-for-bird-flu-detection/ ADVERTISING

California suspends company’s sale of raw milk after new outbreak of bird flu Katie Hawkinson Mon, December 2, 2024 at 5:26 PM EST 3 min read 1 Raw milk pictured on sale in Temecula, California. A raw milk producer in California can no longer distribute its products after its animals tested positive for the bird flu (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) California state officials have suspended a company’s sales of raw milk to retailers amid ongoing concerns about bird flu. Raw milk sales by Raw Farm, located in Fresno, was blocked from distributing its raw dairy products as of Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, their products already on shelves can still be sold, according to the newspaper. The California Department of Food and Agriculture are now investigating. “All Raw Farm operations are currently under quarantine, from herds to bottled product, which means that all raw milk product distribution is suspended,” a spokesperson for the department said in a statement to The Independent. The Independent has contacted Raw Farm for comment. On Sunday the state’s Department of Public Health warned residents against drinking the batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Fresno County’s Raw Farm LLC and advised consumers to return the product to where it was purchased. Raw Farm LLC has issued a voluntary recall of the affected lot code 20241109. A Raw Farm batch bottled on November 9 was also recalled, the Times reported. The sales suspension comes amid contradictory bird flu test results this month. County public health officials were finding bird flu in raw milk bought at stores, while state officials weren’t finding the virus in bulk tests, the Times reports. A new round of tests on Raw Farm products turned up positive Wednesday, and officials suspended sales. Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee told the Times that his cows are indeed infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. He said he wasn’t aware of it until this week, however, because the cows are “so healthy that they don’t show the classic signs or symptoms.” The Fresno County-based Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall of a batch of raw milk this month (California Department of Public Health) The sales suspension comes as human cases of dangerous H5N1 bird flu have risen across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there were 55 cases across seven states as of Friday. The majority of the cases are in California. The agency reported the first avian influenza H5 virus infection in a child in the US last week. The child’s condition is still unclear. The uptick in bird flu comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to tout the consumption of raw milk. Kennedy has pledged that what he characterized as the “aggressive suppression” of raw milk is about to end and revealed he drinks raw milk. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a proponent of raw milk (AFP via Getty Images) Scientists have warned in recent days that the virus may be more widespread than previously believed. “We are in a soup of virus. I mean, there’s virus everywhere around us at this point,” Dr. Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian with the University of Cal-Davis’ One Health Institute, said earlier this month. “This virus is circulating left and right in mammals and in birds, as far as we can tell, some of them are not showing any signs of disease.” The virus is spread to humans via several pathways. Farm workers can inhale infected particles, pick up germs from sick animals and other surfaces and then touch their faces and eyes. Consumers can also get it by drinking raw cow’s milk. Those who have had no contact with infected poultry or other sources of contamination are likely at very low risk of infection. No infections have been reported from eating properly cooked poultry or poultry products or proper handling of poultry meat. With reporting from Julia Musto

California reports H5N1 in more retail raw milk as virus infects 2 more dairy workers Lisa Schnirring Today at 3:47 p.m. Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Share The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) on November 27 warned residents about a second batch of raw milk on retail shelves that has tested positive for avian flu virus, as official await the results from the latest bulk milk tank testing on the farm in Fresno County that produces the products. In other developments, the CDPH reported two more infections in dairy workers, raising the state's human cases this year to 31, all but 1 involving exposure to sick cows. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed those 2 new cases, pushing the national total this year to 55. In its latest FluView update, the CDC said the two new cases from California both involve people ages 18 and older who had mild symptoms, which they reported to local health officials. Also, federal officials confirmed more H5N1 avian flu outbreaks on California dairy farms as well as at poultry facilities in three states. More testing planned, distribution halted at raw milk producer News of a second contaminated raw milk batch came 3 days after California announced the first positive test in retail raw milk sold by Raw Farms, based in Fresno, which is part of the Central Valley region that has been the epicenter of the state's dairy farm outbreaks since late August. For both batches, the positives in retail raw milk was the result of testing at the Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory. As with the first batch, the company has voluntarily recalled the second batch of raw milk. No known human illnesses have been reported. The CDPH said officials from the California Department of Agriculture were at Raw Farm's processing facility on November 27 to collect more samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled milk, and test results are pending. California is among the states that has been regularly testing raw milk in bulk tanks. The Los Angeles Times reported that although county health department testing of retail samples was positive, state testing hadn't detected the virus via its bulk milk testing. It also said state officials on November 28 banned Raw Farm from distributing its raw milk products. The farm's owner also told the Times that follow-up tests at the farm on November 27 were positive for the virus. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health in its warnings about the contaminated raw milk has been tracking outlets in its jurisdiction that have sold milk from Raw Farms. Last week, it listed 10 retailers and said more would likely be added as its investigation continues. On November 27, it posted an update that listed 49 locations, mostly Sprouts Farmers Market locations across the county. It urged residents to avoid drinking the recalled milk and to return any remaining product to the retailer. More California dairy farms, poultry facilities in 6 states hit In updates since November 27, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed 14 more H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cattle, all involving California herds. The latest additions push the state's total to 475 and the national total to 689 across 15 states. Also, APHIS confirmed more H5N1 outbreaks in poultry in six states. All involve commercial farms. In California, the virus struck poultry farms in three counties—a duck breeder and a broiler facility housing more than 266,000 birds in Fresno County, a turkey farm in Merced County, and a commercial hatchery in Tulare County. In Minnesota, the virus hit two more turkey farms in Meeker County, one of which has nearly 242,000 birds. Similar outbreaks were confirmed at turkey farms in North Dakota (Ransom County), South Dakota (Beadle and Faulk counties), and Utah (Sanpete County). In the south, the virus was confirmed at a broiler farm in Tennessee's Gibson County that houses 37,200 birds. The outbreak is Tennessee's first since October 2023. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/california-reports-h5n1-more-retail-raw-milk-virus-infects-2-more-dairy

California suspends distribution of Raw Farm raw milk products after bird flu detection By Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN 3 minute read Published 2:33 PM EST, Mon December 2, 2024 The California Department of Food and Agriculture suspended the distribution of Raw Farm's raw milk products after bird flu was detected in samples of the milk. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images CNN — Distribution of Raw Farm raw milk products has been suspended after bird flu virus was found in milk samples, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said. “All Raw Farm operations are currently under quarantine, from herds to bottled product, which means that all raw milk product distribution is suspended,” Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for the agency, said in a statement on Monday. “CDFA dairy inspectors sampled milk from bottled products and bulk milk storage at Raw Farm’s bottling facility on Wednesday, Nov 27, and laboratory test results made known on November 28 showed the presence of the bird flu virus. All milk tested by CDFA remained at the Raw Farm plant and was not released to consumers.” Related articleMore testing underway after another California raw milk recall due to bird flu virus Federal, state and county officials are continuing to investigate, Lyle said. California health officials previously warned consumers not to drink two lots of recalled Raw Farm products — lot code 20241119 with a best-by date of 12/07/2024 and lot code 20241109 with a best-by date of November 27 — after testing identified bird flu virus in the milk. In information sent to CNN, Raw Farm said products from before state testing may still be on store shelves but no new supply will be added until the quarantine is lifted. There are no signs of symptoms of bird flu in the dairy herd, it said. “Our hard-working dairy team is working in full cooperation with the state to maintain regulatory compliance,” Raw Farm posted on Instagram. “There will be supply shortages and we apologies for [this] inconvenience.” As bird flu has spread among poultry and cattle in the US this year, raw milk has seen a new wave of interest and some high-profile supporters, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. Raw milk was on a laundry list of items that faced “aggressive suppression” by the US Food and Drug Administration, Kennedy said in a post on X in October. In a fact sheet shared with CNN on Monday, Raw Farm said its CEO, Mark McAfee, “has been asked by the RFK transition team to apply for the position of ‘FDA advisor on Raw Milk Policy and Standards Development.’ ” CNN has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment. Pasteurized milk goes through a heating process that kills harmful bacteria. Raw milk is not pasteurized and can carry disease-causing pathogens such as listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, E. coli and bird flu virus, according to the California Department of Public Health. Anyone can get sick from raw milk, but children, older adults, pregnant people and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become ill. Past outbreaks linked to consumption of raw milk or raw milk products involved miscarriages, still births, kidney failure and deaths. According to the FDA, there’s no scientific evidence that raw milk helps with illnesses or allergies, and it’s not allowed to be sold between states. In June, the agency urged states to warn the public more strongly about the dangers of raw milk and to use their regulatory authorities to stop the sale of raw milk in areas where dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1. No cases of bird flu have been linked to the milk but the state has said it’s investigating links between bird flu in raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry and humans. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recorded 55 human cases of bird flu in 2024, including 29 in California. Most are linked to farm workers who have been in contact with sick animals. Bird flu symptoms in humans include typical flu-like symptoms such as eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, trouble swallowing or fever. Anyone who has consumed raw milk products and notices symptoms should alert their health care provider or local health department immediately, California’s health department said.

“CDFA dairy inspectors sampled milk from bottled products and bulk milk storage at Raw Farm’s bottling facility on Wednesday, Nov 27, and laboratory test results made known on November 28 showed the presence of the bird flu virus. All milk tested by CDFA remained at the Raw Farm plant and was not released to consumers.” https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/02/health/raw-farm-raw-milk-products-distribution-suspended-california/index.html

TIPTON, Calif. — There’s a sickness hovering over Tulare County‘s dairy industry. On a recent 98-degree afternoon, dead cows and calves were piled up along the roadside. Thick swarms of black flies hummed and knocked against the windows of an idling car, while crows and vultures waited nearby — eyeballing the taut and bloated carcasses roasting in the October heat. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-10-20/as-bird-flu-outbreaks-rise-piles-of-dead-cows-become-morbid-central-valley-tableau?utm_source=yahoo

With bird flu cases on the rise, staff at California lab say they are overworked and burned out Suhauna Hussain Sun, December 1, 2024 at 6:00 AM EST 10 min read The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory on the campus of UC Davis. (Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times) Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways On a recent Friday morning, Alyssa Laxamana arrived at a laboratory on the UC Davis campus to continue California's race against bird flu. A note from her supervisor had alerted Laxamana that about 130 samples of cow milk and other dairy products were en route — a large but manageable workload. She got to work preparing the buffer solutions and other supplies she would need to test the samples for H5N1 influenza, the virus that causes the flu spreading through California's cattle and poultry farms. Laxamana's plans, however, quickly went out the window. More samples kept popping up in a digital queue as another lab worker logged unexpected shipments. Around noon she had to draw a line. She calculated she could get through about 270 samples that day. The rest would have to wait. “I can only do so much," Laxamana recalled saying to herself. Laxamana works in the biotechnology department of the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, the first line of defense in the state's effort to track and prevent the spread of the H5N1 virus. Read more: As bird flu outbreaks rise, piles of dead cattle become shocking Central Valley tableau Far from working at full capacity, however, the Davis lab has been roiled over the past year by workplace tensions. Understaffing and poor management, Laxamana and other current and former employees say, have left lab employees overworked and struggling to keep pace with testing demands, while creating an environment where mistakes are more likely. An exodus of most of the staff this year left Laxamana and a co-worker for a period as the only two people testing for the virus on a daily basis. The stakes for the lab are high: It is the only lab in the state with the authority to confirm bird flu cases. Although there is no evidence that the alleged workplace problems have contributed to an outbreak, processing tests quickly gives farmers a jump on quarantining or culling infected animals. “Any potential delay in testing could result in greater spread," said Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee, who specializes in influenza in birds and other animals. The problems come amid a rising tide of bird flu cases at poultry and dairy farms and an increasing threat to humans. Last week the Davis lab confirmed the virus had been found in a retail sample of raw milk from a Fresno-based dairy, which health officials warn may have been sold in stores in Los Angeles County. And, so far, about 30 people in the state — the vast majority of them dairy workers — are known to have been infected. Bill Kisliuk, a spokesperson for UC Davis, denied that workplace issues have left the lab ill-equipped to handle bird flu testing. He said the facility has "maintained the supervision, staffing and resources necessary to provide timely and vital health and safety information to those asking us to perform tests throughout the current outbreak of avian flu." After The Times inquired about staffing levels and other workplace issues, the Governor's Office of Emergency Services inspected the lab in October, while UC Davis officials hired more staff and got help from a lab in Wisconsin, according to current staff. UC Davis officials declined to confirm the moves. The spokesperson for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, which jointly operates the lab, deferred questions to UC Davis, saying, "CAHFS lab has done tremendous work under demanding circumstances." Read more: Despite warnings from bird flu experts, it's business as usual in California dairy country The virus is taking a rising toll on the state's dairy and poultry industries. Since September, outbreaks at turkey farms, chicken broilers, egg-laying facilities and other producers around the state have affected more than 6 million birds, according to USDA data. And while the virus is less lethal in cows than birds, dead cows and calves have piled up along roadsides in Tulare County, with farmers and veterinarians reporting mortality rates far higher than expected. Also worrisome for a state that produces 20% of the country's milk is the steep drop-off in milk production farmers have reported among cows that recover from the flu. Discontent over staffing, pay and other alleged workplace issues has pervaded the lab over the past two years, emails and other communications reviewed by The Times show. In May 2023, employees in the biotechnology section sent a petition to the lab's managers demanding they address the staff's concerns. After getting no reply, they sent another note viewed by The Times in November, accusing managers of refusing "time and again" to make improvements. Their workload, they added, had "measurably increased" since the temporary closure of the another CAHFS lab in Tulare earlier that year due to flooding. California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory worker Alyssa Laxamana, left, and former worker Kayla Dollar at the UC Davis lab in September. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) "We operate with the mindset that the next outbreak is always around the corner, and we need proper training opportunities and competitive salary to remain adequately staffed for that eventuality," they wrote. Several lab staff quit their jobs in the first half of 2024, leaving behind what they described as a relatively inexperienced, skeletal crew. Helen Kado-Fong, a supervisor who had worked in the biotechnology department for about 12 years decided to retire early in May. She said she had become fed up with what she described as an attitude of indifference or hostility toward efforts by her and others in the lab to raise concerns. In an email she sent a few months before she left to the dean of UC Davis veterinary school and CAHFS director, Kado-Fong warned the “high turnover and disengagement of technical staff is weakening the ability of the CAHFS laboratory to fulfill its mission.” Another to quit was Kayla Dollar, a lab assistant in the department for about two years, who said she left in June after being rejected for a promotion to a lab technician. Dollar said she was told she didn't get the job because she didn't have sufficient experience. Dollar said she was perplexed by the explanation because her supervisor Kado-Fong had been trying to get the OK to have Dollar receive training to prepare her for the technician role. "I was hitting a wall at every turn," Dollar said. Dollar was hired at a UC Davis veterinary genetics lab in June as a biotechnologist, the same position she had been rejected from at CAHFS. And Jasmine Burke quit her post as one of the lab's technicians in July, she said, after being threatened with discipline for raising concerns about long work hours and rushed testing procedures. She and others said that as the lab rushed to meet 24-hour turnaround times for bird flu testing, other types of tests became backlogged, and she and other staff failed at times to keep up with routine lab maintenance, such as recalibrating machines and ensuring refrigerators holding samples and chemical solutions were set at the correct temperature. "Every attempt to communicate concerns here goes nowhere," she wrote to the university's human resources department, according to an email viewed by The Times. Burke now works as a barista at a coffee shop. Kisliuk, the UC Davis spokesperson, declined to respond to questions about specific incidents involving employees. "When a staff member reports concerns about workplace safety or conditions, we review the matter and take the appropriate steps," he wrote in an emailed statement. By July, five employees had departed, leaving behind only Laxamana and colleague Victoria Ontiveros, who have worked in the lab for two years or less. Late one afternoon on a day in September, Ontiveros recalled how she changed into scrubs and donned two sets of surgical gloves, goggles, an N95 mask, a lab coat and a hairnet — the required gear for entering the Biosafety Level 3 lab, or BSL-3, where samples suspected of containing the virus are tested. Only approved staff can enter the facility through a locked door that requires an iris scan to open. California officials have blocked Raw Milk dairy in Fresno from distributing its raw dairy products. (Tomas Ovalle / For The Times) Ontiveros had already done several long shifts in the BSL-3 that week, which with normal staffing would have been divided among multiple people, she said. Now, she was preparing to test cow milk samples that had arrived at the lab around 2 p.m. Typically, samples received after noon were tested the following day, but she said her supervisors had insisted these needed to be turned around quickly as infections spread. She said she worked for hours, painstakingly pipetting drops of the samples into tiny glass wells as part of the testing process, which extracts genetic material in order to detect the presence of the virus. Then, late in the evening, she realized she had programmed one of the machines analyzing the samples incorrectly. Ontiveros felt a sharp pang of despair. All her work, and the hours Laxamana had spent earlier in the day mixing a chemical solution to wash the samples, had been wasted. It was around 9 p.m. when she emerged from the lab. She had started her workday around 8 a.m. The tests would have to be redone the next day. “We are stretched so thin that mistakes can happen," Ontiveros said. "I was so tired and mentally drained.” Read more: 'More serious than we had hoped': Bird flu deaths mount among California dairy cows At the time, Ontiveros said she was handling the testing of cow milk largely on her own, although another worker was sometimes sent up from the Tulare lab to help on weekends. While Laxamana had the required security clearance, she hadn't yet completed the necessary training. “There's this huge pressure on me and and responsibility to show up to work every day because I have no backup," Ontiveros said. Later in September, Laxamana described being put straight to work as the number of cattle milk samples was ramping up. She said she was asked to run 44 samples without ever having completed a practice run. The only hands-on training she had had was twice shadowing the testing process. As Laxamana worked, Ontiveros stood nearby, supervising. Already nervous, Laxamana said she was distracted by a walkie-talkie that crackled with voices as she tried to work. Colleagues in the main lab were peppering her with questions about what to do about another batch of tests that appeared to have failed. Holding a pipette carefully in one hand, Laxamana talked through the radio to troubleshoot the problem. At times this year understaffing has led to quality control missteps, current and former workers said. Laxamana described coming to work one morning in October and realizing results of tests she had run the day before had not been analyzed properly by lab staff. She said a manager assured Laxamana the errors would be corrected, but when she checked later that day the results had not been changed. She said she stopped a case coordinator from releasing the incorrect results to farmers, which would have resulted in the culling of birds. Earlier this year, a poultry sample got misplaced and went untested for three weeks, Laxamana said. She attributed the mistake to being overworked, saying, "There were only two people handling the workload, and things were missed in all of that chaos." Kisliuk, the UC Davis spokesperson, declined to answer questions about specific incidents described where workers made mistakes or where managers made mistakes. "We have multiple levels of quality assurance and extensive training of staff," he said. In late summer the lab hired a supervisor and others to join the lab. The move created additional work for Laxamana and Ontiveros, who said they were required to juggle their own work while also helping with training the new arrivals. In recent weeks the supervisor and another new hire took over testing of high-risk poultry samples, but Laxamana and Ontiveros said staffing shortages remain. Still, Laxamana doesn't think about leaving. “There are things that I can do to help prevent a disaster,” she said.“I could not bear to leave the lab in the condition that it is right now.” This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

And while the virus is less lethal in cows than birds, dead cows and calves have piled up along roadsides in Tulare County, with farmers and veterinarians reporting mortality rates far higher than expected. https://www.yahoo.com/news/bird-flu-cases-rise-staff-110048708.html

CA Raw Farm Milk Recalled Amid More Bird Flu Concerns; Sales Suspended The California Department of Public Health has recalled products from Fresno's Raw Farm amid a possible bird flu virus contamination. Kat Schuster,Patch Staff Posted Fri, Nov 29, 2024 at 2:24 pm PT Photo of the front of a Raw Farm Raw Milk Carton. (California Department of Public Health) CALIFORNIA — California has issued another warning and recall of raw milk products from Fresno-based Raw Farm following elevated concerns about avian influenza (H5N1), authorities said Thursday. A second warning came from the state after the California Department of Public Health detected the virus — known commonly as bird flu — in a batch of raw milk sold in California stores. The California Department of Food and Agriculture visited the farm on Thursday and requested that the farm recall its raw milk products. California's health and agriculture departments have also ordered the farm to suspend sales to retailers amid concerns that the farm's cattle was infected by the virus, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, the milk that remains on shelves can remain available for sale, the Times wrote. Still, consumers are advised not to drink it and should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. Raw Farm Owner Mark McAfee said a round of bird flu tests conducted among cows at the farm Wednesday turned up positive, the newspaper said. The news comes just after a child was diagnosed with bird flu. To date, 55 people across the nation have contracted bird flu this year. Meanwhile, the Golden State has reported 29 confirmed cases of bird flu since early October. The majority of those cases have come from infected cows, according to CDPH. Of the cases, 28 had direct contact with cows, and displayed mild symptoms, typically eye infections. None required hospitalization, the state said. According to the state on Thursday, no new human bird flu cases associated with the Raw Farm products have been detected. "This particular dairy that is involved in this recall has been implicated in a number of recalls over the year including the bird flu right now, E coli and previously salmonella," said Mitzi Baum, CEO of Stop Foodborne Illness, told ABC7. The child reportedly had mild symptoms, was being treated with antiviral medication and had already tested negative, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Alameda child, who attends daycare, is the first U.S. minor to contract the illness, the CDC said. Bird flu spreads among dairy cows and poultry but it can be contracted by humans consuming such animals and dairy products. Bird flu was detected during the testing of a batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Raw Farm. And while state's health officials are urging the public to avoid drinking it, pasteurized milk remains safe to drink. State health experts have long warned against consuming raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter and other bacteria have been reported related to consuming raw dairy products. Raw milk products are not pasteurized, a heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as bird flu. Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness, according to health experts. Here are the symptoms in humans to be aware of: Eye redness or discharge Cough Sore throat Runny or stuffy nose Diarrhea Vomiting Muscle or body aches Headaches Fatigue Trouble breathing Fever Anyone who has consumed a recalled product and is experiencing these symptoms should immediately contact a healthcare provider. https://patch.com/california/across-ca/ca-raw-farm-milk-recalled-amid-more-bird-flu-concerns-sales-suspended

Health 30 November 2024 California Raw Milk Sales Suspended Over Bird Flu Outbreak State officials issue recall after virus detected, urging consumers to avoid raw dairy products California is currently grappling with heightened concerns surrounding the safety of raw milk after recent bird flu infections emerged, leading to significant recalls and public health warnings. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has pulled products from Raw Farm, based in Fresno, amid allegations of H5N1 avian influenza contamination detected within their milk. This marks the second warning issued this month as authorities respond to the increasing spread of bird flu infiltrations within dairy populations across the state. According to health officials, bird flu has been found not only among poultry but also among dairy cattle, leading to serious ramifications for local farms. The CDPH has requested the removal of any raw milk products associated with lot code 20241119 from store shelves, advising consumers to either return these products to their place of purchase or prevent their consumption altogether. Despite this precaution, many products may remain available for sale until they are recalled. Mark McAfee, the owner of Raw Farm, reported the troubling discovery of positive bird flu tests among his cows, asserting he was unaware of their illness until recently. He elaborated, "They're so healthy, they don’t show the classic signs,” indicating the challenge of detecting this virus within animals before it spreads. Raw milk produced by the farm has already faced scrutiny earlier this month due to claims related to other pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella, associated with its products. This escalation of bird flu cases has prompted the state’s agriculture and health departments to suspend all sales from Raw Farm until safety can be assured. Health experts highlight the dangers of consuming raw milk, particularly with avian influenza's potential health risks. The CDPH has emphasized the importance of pasteurization, which effectively eliminates dangerous pathogens—including viruses like H5N1—that can lead to severe health issues. Despite the current climate of bacterial and viral threats, pasteurized milk continues to be considered safe for consumption. Health officials strongly recommend consumers choose pasteurized options over raw varieties, as the pasteurization process effectively kills harmful bacteria and viruses. The urge to consume raw milk, often justified by claims of superior flavor or health benefits, stands starkly against the rising tide of foodborne illnesses and viral transmissions the state currently faces. With the recent diagnosis of bird flu in humans, the situation has become increasingly dire. The CDC has reported numerous infections relating to the outbreak, with the majority of human cases being associated with direct contact with infected cows. Notably, 55 cases have been confirmed nationwide this year, with California alone accounting for almost 30 of these cases. Fortunately, most individuals are displaying mild symptoms. The situation has also been complicated by the emergence of political voices advocating for raw milk consumption. Prominent among these is Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been openly supportive of raw milk products. This creates additional pressure within the public discourse surrounding dairy consumption amid proven health concerns. Kennedy has been vocal against restrictive regulations affecting raw milk, arguing for greater access even as public safety remains at risk. According to public health experts, individuals who handle or consume raw milk have increased exposure to dangerous illnesses. Symptoms of bird flu typically exhibit as respiratory issues, fever, and gastrointestinal distress among other complaints. Anyone experiencing such symptoms post-consumption of contaminated products is urged to contact health professionals immediately for assistance. The CDPH continues to evaluate the risk of contaminated raw milk and any related health repercussions actively. They are also working to educate the public about safer dairy practices and the importance of abiding by recommendations from health officials. The response plan includes stricter monitoring of dairy farms and heavier enforcement of recall protocols, ensuring public awareness of any potential hazards. To summarize, the bird flu outbreak detected within California's raw milk products is not just another chapter of food safety mishaps; it is indicative of systemic issues within the state’s dairy industry. Authorities are scrambling to contain the threat, advising potential consumers to heed warnings and choose safer alternatives to protect themselves from this multifaceted public health risk. Public receptiveness to these warnings will be pivotal. With rising consumer interest in local farms and healthful eating, the effects of these recalls may prompt broader discussions about food origin and safety standards within the farming community. For now, the takeaway remains clear: when it concerns raw milk, it's best to proceed with caution. https://evrimagaci.org/tpg/california-raw-milk-sales-suspended-over-bird-flu-outbreak-71747

California suspends company’s sale of raw milk after new outbreak of bird flu RFK Jr., a proponent of raw milk, could soon lead the Department of Health and Human Services Katie Hawkinson Friday 29 November 2024 19:04 EST California state officials have suspended a company’s sales of raw milk to retailers amid ongoing concerns about bird flu. Raw milk sales by Raw Farm, located in Fresno, was blocked from distributing its raw dairy products as of Thursday, the Los Angeles Times reported. However, their products already on shelves can still be sold, according to the newspaper. The Independent has contacted Raw Farm for comment. On Sunday the state’s Department of Public Health warned residents against drinking the batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Fresno County’s Raw Farm LLC and advised consumers to return the product to where it was purchased. Raw Farm LLC has issued a voluntary recall of the affected lot code 20241109. The sales suspension comes amid contradictory bird flu test results this month. County public health officials were finding bird flu in raw milk bought at stores, while state officials weren’t finding the virus in bulk tests, the Times reports. A new round of tests on Raw Farm products turned up positive Wednesday, and officials suspended sales. Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee told the Times that his cows are indeed infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus. He said he wasn’t aware of it until this week, however, because the cows are “so healthy that they don’t show the classic signs or symptoms.” open image in gallery The Fresno County-based Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall of a batch of raw milk this month (California Department of Public Health) The sales suspension comes as human cases of dangerous H5N1 bird flu have risen across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there were 55 cases across seven states as of Friday. The majority of the cases are in California. The agency reported the first avian influenza H5 virus infection in a child in the US last week. The child’s condition is still unclear. The uptick in bird flu comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, continues to tout the consumption of raw milk. Kennedy has pledged that what he characterized as the “aggressive suppression” of raw milk is about to end and revealed he drinks raw milk. open image in gallery “We are in a soup of virus. I mean, there’s virus everywhere around us at this point,” Dr. Marcela Uhart, a wildlife veterinarian with the University of Cal-Davis’ One Health Institute, said earlier this month. “This virus is circulating left and right in mammals and in birds, as far as we can tell, some of them are not showing any signs of disease.” The virus is spread to humans via several pathways. Farm workers can inhale infected particles, pick up germs from sick animals and other surfaces and then touch their faces and eyes. Consumers can also get it by drinking raw cow’s milk. https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/california-raw-milk-bird-flu-rfk-jr-b2656276.html

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