niman

#According to McAfee, some of the samples collected by state officials also tested positive."

Untroubled by the positive tests and the possibility of selling raw milk products tainted with the bird flu virus, McAfee told The Times that he is urging consumers to “get to the store. Immediately!” https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-11-29/raw-farm-sales-suspendedP985L

McAfee confirmed to The Times that his cows have H5N1 bird flu virus. He said he was not aware the cows had the disease until this week because they “are so healthy that they do not show the classic signs or symptoms. They are mostly all asymptomatic.” https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-11-29/raw-farm-sales-suspended

Label on human milk (California only)

Raw Milk Product Detail

Pet Food Nationwide

Pet Golden Raw Keifer

Website changes Pet Raw Keifer

Bird flu detected in second lot of raw milk sold in California, health officials say “All of the cows at Raw Farm are healthy and do not show signs or symptoms of HPAI or Bird Flu,” Raw Farm said in a statement Thursday. Nov. 28, 2024, 3:03 PM EST By Marlene Lenthang California health officials have issued a warning against drinking a second lot of raw milk due to the bird flu virus. The bird flu virus was detected in a second retail sample of cream top, whole raw milk from Raw Farm LLC, the California Department of Public Health said in a news release Wednesday. At the state’s request, Raw Farm, based in Fresno County, issued a voluntary recall of the affected lot: code 20241119, with a “best by” date of Dec. 7. Health officials noted that no cases of illness associated with the product have been detected. “Consumers should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. Pasteurized milk remains safe to drink,” the release said. It comes after the health department said Sunday it detected bird flu in a lot with a “best by” date of Nov. 27. Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall for that lot earlier this week. This second instance of bird flu was detected in testing by the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory, which tests raw milk products from retail stores in the county “as a second line of consumer protection.” The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) visited Raw Farm’s milk processing facility Wednesday to collect “additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products.” Raw milk is not pasteurized, a process that includes heating to a high temperature to kill harmful germs and viruses. Public health officials say that consuming raw milk can lead to serious health risks, especially for certain vulnerable populations, due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. “Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all been reported related to consuming raw dairy products,” the release said. Since October, there have been 29 human cases of bird flu in the state, and 28 of those people had direct contact with infected dairy cows. Thus far, there’s been no person-to-person spread of bird flu detected in the state or in the U.S. All of those cases reported mild symptoms, primarily eye infections, and none required hospitalization. The state is regularly testing raw milk from dairies as part of the its bird flu response. Bird flu can be contracted when drinking raw milk from an infected cow, when raw milk from an infected cow is splashed into the eyes, nose or mouth, or by touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after contact with raw milk from an infected cow. Raw Farm said in a statement shared Thursday that while bird flu has affected hundreds of herds in California, “all of the cows at Raw Farm are healthy and do not show signs or symptoms of HPAI or Bird Flu.” “However, it is possible that some cows in one of our herds may be an asymptomatic shedder. None of our cows are symptomatic and showing any signs of illness,” the statement said. “Every day, Raw Farm tests all of our milk in our pathogen lab to assure our products are pathogen free.” Raw Farm said it’s not “allowed to access or perform” bird flu testing for it’s raw milk, and the company instead relies on partners at the CDFA and the state vet’s office. “We are working tirelessly with all of our scientific relationships and technology to work through this process and return delicious nutritious immune system building raw dairy products to a store near you,” the statement said. In a separate statement, Raw Farm said that the CDFA “has placed a quarantine on our herd, and all milk must be sold for pasteurization until the quarantine is lifted.” According to the CDFA, bird flu has been detected in 436 dairies in the state. Those dairies are under quarantine, which will be released as the farms fully recover and then are placed on a surveillance list for weekly testing. The CDFA said the nationwide outbreak of H5N1 bird flu began in poultry in 2022 and was first detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, cases of infected livestock herds have been reported in California and Utah. Marlene Lenthang Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. ADVERTISING

Raw Farm said that the CDFA “has placed a quarantine on our herd, and all milk must be sold for pasteurization until the quarantine is lifted.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bird-flu-detected-second-lot-raw-milk-sold-california-health-officials-rcna182152

Second Lot of Raw Milk Found with Bird Flu Virus Press Release | Thursday, Nov 28, 2024 Click Here to Get Our 'SCV This Morning' Newsletter Tweet This Facebook Digg This Bookmark Stumble RSS The California Department of Public Health is issuing a second warning to Californians to not consume raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a detection of bird flu virus in a second retail sample. At the state’s request, the company has issued a voluntary recall of the affected milk lot code number 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024 printed on the packaging. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has found Raw Farm, LLC milk sold at locations that include Sprouts Farmers Market in Santa Clarita. Retailers where the product was sold in LA County include: **Denotes a new location. Additional retailers may be confirmed as the investigation continues. -Back Door Bakery, 8349 Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA, 91040 -**Bristol Farms, 7880 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046 -Eataly, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90067 -Erewhon Market, 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101 -Erewhon Market, 26767 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302 -Erewhon Market, 4121 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029 -Erewhon Market, 7660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036 -**Lassen’s Natural Foods, 1631 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026 -**Lassen’s Natural Foods, 2080 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 -**Lassen’s Natural Foods, 710 S. La Brea AVE., Los Angeles, CA 90036 -Lazy Acres, 1841 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027 -**Lazy Acres, 2510 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254 -**Mothers Market & Kitchen, 6677 W. Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038 -**Mothers Market & Kitchen, 2475 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 1302 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles CA 90019 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 1751 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90024 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 8985 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90034 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 915 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 2245 Yosemite Dr., Eagle Rock, 90041 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 7925 Atlantic Ave., Cudahy CA, 90201 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 5660 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City CA, 90230 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 12060 Lakewood Blvd., Downey, CA 90242 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 14411 Hawthorne Blvd., Lawndale, CA 90260 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 1515 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 4230 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance CA, 90505 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 15801 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, CA 90603 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 11522 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 11900 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 4253 Woodruff Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 820 N. Western Ave., San Pedro, CA 90732 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 4600 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90804 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 920 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 400 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, CA 91016 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 39 N. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 6607 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills, CA 91307 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 10821 N. Zelzah Ave., Granada Hills, CA 91344 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 24285 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia, CA 91355 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 21821 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 1011 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 11315 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 835 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 655 S Grand Ave., Glendora, CA 91740 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 1375 Foothill Blvd., La Verne, CA 91750 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 239 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA 91765 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 2630 E. Workman Ave., West Covina, CA 91791 -**Sprouts Farmers Market, 150 E Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801 -Vitamin City LB, 6247 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90808 -Vitamin City, 642 W. Arrow Hwy., San Dimas, CA 91773 -The Whole Wheatery, 44264 10th W, Lancaster, CA 93534 No human bird flu cases associated with the product have been detected. As the state continues to investigate the link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers are strongly urged to not consume any of the affected raw milk. Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase. The California Department of Food and Agriculture was onsite at Raw Farm’s milk processing facility on Wednesday, Nov. 27, collecting additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products. Results from that additional testing are pending. As with the testing that led to the November 24 voluntary recall notice, the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory tested raw milk products from retail stores in their county as a second line of consumer protection. The county identified bird flu in this second sample of raw milk purchased at a retail outlet. Risks Associated with Raw Milk Public health experts have long warned consumers against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all 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. 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 products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department. California Regularly Tests Raw Milk As part of the state’s bird flu response, testing of raw milk from dairies has been increased to help prevent raw milk consumers from getting the virus. Once bird flu was found in California dairy herds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began regular testing of raw milk in bulk tanks. In response to these recent positive tests from two retail raw milk batches, CDFA followed up with immediate additional sampling and testing at Raw Farm. Pasteurized Milk is Safe to Drink Pasteurized milk is safe to drink. Pasteurization, one of the most significant scientific food safety discoveries in human history, is the process of heating milk to specific temperatures for a certain length of time to kill many microorganisms and enzymes that lead to spoilage and illness. Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other harmful germs that can be found in raw milk. CDPH advises consumers not to drink raw milk or eat raw milk products due to the risk of foodborne illnesses. About Bird Flu Since early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, 28 of whom had direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S. To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections), and none have been hospitalized. Because bird flu viruses can change and gain the ability to spread more easily between people, public health officials have provided preventive measures and are monitoring animal and human infections carefully. Protecting Public Health California continues to take swift and comprehensive action in response to the detection of bird flu in dairy cows across the Central Valley, demonstrating a strong commitment to public health and worker safety. While the overall risk to the public remains low, the state is prioritizing containment efforts, raising public awareness, and providing resources to those at higher risk. Key initiatives include the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), increased testing, and robust surveillance of infected areas. Through coordinated efforts between agencies like CDPH, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and CalOES, California is leading a cross-agency response that includes multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, a targeted social media campaign to promote preventive practices, and media interviews to keep the public informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring that farm workers have access to additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks. Specifically, the state is: Working with local, state, and federal partners to monitor bird flu in farm animals and people who work closely with poultry and dairy cows. Distributing protective gear to dairy farms and workers who have contact with infected dairy cows or raw milk to reduce the risk of getting bird flu. Helping ensure individuals with symptoms of or exposure to bird flu have access to testing and treatment. Conducting timely public education efforts to ensure those impacted have information about bird flu. How Bird Flu Spreads Touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after contact with raw milk from an infected cow, or other contaminated items or surfaces. Raw milk from an infected cow splashed into eyes, nose, or mouth. Drinking raw milk from a cow infected with bird flu virus. More Resources For the latest information on the state’s bird flu response, visit CDPH’s Bird Flu webpage and CDFA’s H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock site. For information on the national bird flu response, see CDC’s Bird Flu Response Update. For work-related questions or complaints related to bird flu, contact the Cal/OSHA Call Center in English or Spanish at 1-833-579-0927. Employers can contact the California Occupational Health and Safety Division at 800-963-9424 for a free consultation to strengthen their illness and injury safety program. Farmers should contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s bird flu hotline at 866-922-2473 if they suspect their animals are infected with bird flu. https://scvnews.com/second-lot-of-raw-milk-found-with-bird-flu-virus/

Several stores in LA County may have sold recalled raw milk, health officials say Some of the stores include four Erewhon Markets, Eataly on Santa Monica Boulevard, and two Vitamin City locations. Wednesday, November 27, 2024 12:07PM The same suspect has stolen MacBook Pros from homes in Irvine and Lawndale as they were being delivered, apparently by using fake IDs. LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is warning residents to avoid consuming voluntarily recalled raw milk due to a detection of H5 bird flu virus in a retail sample. Many retailers in Los Angeles may have sold recalled raw milk that could be contaminated with the virus, the agency said. No illnesses associated with this lot of raw milk have been reported in LA County, according to DPH. The Raw Farm LLC issued a voluntary recall, at the request of the state, of the affected cream top, whole raw milk with lot code 20241109 and "best by'' date of 11/27/2024 printed on the packaging. Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase, DPH said. According to DPH, some retailers where the product was sold in LA County include: Back Door Bakery, 8349 Foothill Blvd., Sunland Eataly, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles Erewhon Market, 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena Erewhon Market, 26767 Agoura Rd., Calabasas Erewhon Market, 4121 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles Erewhon Market, 7660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles Lazy Acres, 1841 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles Vitamin City LB, 6247 E. Spring St., Long Beach Vitamin City, 642 W. Arrow Hwy., San Dimas The Whole Wheatery, 44264 10th St. W, Lancaster DPH said additional retailers may be confirmed as the investigation continues. Although no illnesses associated with this lot of raw milk have been reported in L.A. County, out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of H5 bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk, the agency said. DPH is also notifying retailers to remove the affected raw milk from their shelves. Health inspectors in L.A. County will be visiting retail establishments where this product was sold to ensure that it is no longer available for purchase, the agency said. https://abc7.com/post/several-stores-los-angeles-county-may-have-sold-recalled-raw-milk-health-officials-say/15594910/

More testing underway after another California raw milk recall due to bird flu virus By Lex Harvey and Sam Tupper, CNN 4 minute read Updated 9:13 AM EST, Thu November 28, 2024 Another recall was issued Wednesday for raw milk from Raw Farm LLC after bird flu was detected in the milk. JoNel Aleccia/AP CNN — California health officials are warning not to drink another lot of raw milk from Fresno-based Raw Farm after it tested positive for bird flu virus. More testing of Raw Farm products is underway, the state said. “As the state continues to investigate the link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers are strongly urged to not consume any of the affected raw milk,” the California Department of Public Health said in a statement on Wednesday. Related articleBird flu virus detected in raw milk in California “Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase.” At the state’s request, Raw Farm issued a voluntary recall for the affected milk lot code number 20241119, with best before date of 12/07/2024. Earlier this week, Raw Farm recalled quart and half-gallon sizes of raw milk with the lot ID of 20241109 and a best-by date of November 27. No human bird flu cases linked to the milk have been reported. The Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory was testing raw milk products from retail stores in the county when it identified the virus, one week after it was found in another batch of Raw Farm’s raw milk. 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 and E. coli. Public health officials have long warned against drinking raw milk due to risk of illness; past outbreaks linked to consumption or raw milk or raw milk products involved miscarriages, still births, kidney failure and deaths. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, there’s no scientific evidence that raw milk helps with illnesses or allergies and it’s not allowed to be sold between states. CNN reached out to Raw Farm for comment about the new recall. In a November 24 news release, Raw Farm said its products are “rigorously tested for quality” and all “results performed by RAW FARM and all of the official tests by CDFA (the California State agency that regulates and tests Raw Farm products) have been NEGATIVE.” California’s health agency said in its news release on Wednesday that the California Department of Food and Agriculture, known as CDFA, collected additional samples of store bulk tank milk and bottled products from Raw Farm on Wednesday, after bird flu was detected in two lots. “Results from that additional testing are pending,” the release said. As bird flu has spread among poultry and cattle in the US this year, raw milk has seen a new wave of interest. It also has 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, who has said he drinks it. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Friday from the CNN Health team. In June, the FDA 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. Bird flu has continued to spread in wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle since spring. There’s no evidence of person-to-person spread but scientists worry the virus can mutate to spread more easily among people. Dr. David Kessler, a former FDA commissioner and chief of Operation Warp Speed, wrote this week in a New York Times opinion piece that milk should be bulk tested in states with dairy farms “to determine the full extent of the infection on these farms and to allow us to contain the virus.” “Without mandatory testing, bird flu will continue circulating at farms across the country, which substantially increases the risk that the virus mutates and evolves to allow a human-to-human transmission that will be hard to stop,” Kessler wrote. 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. Last week, the CDC announced the first US case of bird flu identified in a child in California; an investigation into how the child was exposed is underway. 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 the raw milk product and notices symptoms should alert their health care provider or local health department immediately, California’s health department said. CNN’s Jamie Gumbrecht contributed to this report.

Raw milk advocates turn to 'pet' milk amid state ban It's illegal to sell raw milk for human consumption in New Jersey due to the risk of illness. Advocates say it can improve health and cure illness, and so are finding ways to get it. Matt Cortina NorthJersey.com Mia Clarke remembers the first time she stumbled upon raw milk. She was “off the beaten path” at a roadside farm stand in North Carolina. “I pulled up to the farm, and the cows were glowing in the sun and the lady was super nice. I wasn’t scared of it,” Clarke says. “I thought I would try it out, and when I had the first sip, it just tasted so good that it was hard to believe that there would be any danger about it.” Like many others, Clarke, a 24-year-old who lives in Union County with her husband and 7-month-old son, had come across information online indicating that drinking raw milk could be beneficial to one’s health. But Clarke was hooked after tasting it and experiencing positive health outcomes she attributed to the milk. Today, she and her husband are two of the many natural foods social media influencers singing the gospel of raw milk to their tens of thousands of followers. “I usually have it every day if I have it available,” she says. https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/11/25/raw-milk-new-jerseyans-turn-to-pet-milk-amid-state-ban/76333732007/

PET FOOD RAW WHOLE MILK Whole | 32 oz | FROZEN INGREDIENTS: WHOLE COW RAW MILK PET FOOD RAW KEFIR Plain | 32 oz Golden | 32 oz

Background View Larger The map above shows the states in which sale of unpasteurized milk is allowed in retail stores, on the farm only, or prohibited. It shows which states have laws that prohibit the sale of unpasteurized milk but allow legal access to unpasteurized milk through cow or herd shares. States that had changes in their laws to expand or restrict access to unpasteurized milk from 2012 through 2018 are also identified on the map.1 Show Less Human consumption of unpasteurized, or raw, milk is a serious public health concern.1 Pathogens found in raw milk that would be otherwise destroyed by pasteurization include E. coli, Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria, among others.2 Human infection with these pathogens can cause severe illness and death.3 Federal law prohibits the sale of unpasteurized milk across state lines, but individual state laws govern the sale of unpasteurized milk within the state. These state laws vary widely. While some states prohibit the sale of unpasteurized milk to consumers, other states allow its sale in retail stores or on the farm where the milk was produced. https://www.cdc.gov/phlp/php/publications/unpasteurized-cow-milk.html

NEW PET FOOD ❄️ FROZEN RAW MILK NOW AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE FIND IN THE ❄️ FROZEN DEPARTMENT https://rawfarmusa.com/

CDPH Warns Against Drinking Second Lot of Raw Milk Following Bird Flu Detection November 27, 2024 NR24-042 Voluntary recall underway; Pasteurized milk is safe to drink What You Need to Know: CDPH is issuing another warning to Californians not to consume an additional batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a second detection of bird flu virus. Raw Farm, LLC issued a voluntary recall at the state’s request of the affected lot code 20241119 with a Best By 12/07/2024. Consumers should immediately return any remaining product to the store where it was purchased. Pasteurized milk remains safe to drink. Sacramento – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing a second warning to Californians to not consume raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a detection of bird flu virus in a second retail sample. At the state’s request, the company has issued a voluntary recall of the affected milk lot code number 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024 printed on the packaging. No human bird flu cases associated with the product have been detected. As the state continues to investigate the link between bird flu detections in retail raw milk and the ongoing spread of bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers are strongly urged to not consume any of the affected raw milk. Customers should immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was onsite at Raw Farm’s milk processing facility today, November 27, collecting additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products. Results from that additional testing are pending. As with the testing that led to the November 24 voluntary recall notice, the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory tested raw milk products from retail stores in their county as a second line of consumer protection. The county identified bird flu in this second sample of raw milk purchased at a retail outlet. Risks Associated with Raw Milk Public health experts have long warned consumers against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all 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. 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 products, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department. California Regularly Tests Raw Milk As part of the state’s bird flu response, testing of raw milk from dairies has been increased to help prevent raw milk consumers from getting the virus. Once bird flu was found in California dairy herds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) began regular testing of raw milk in bulk tanks. In response to these recent positive tests from two retail raw milk batches, CDFA followed up with immediate additional sampling and testing at Raw Farm. Pasteurized Milk is Safe to Drink Pasteurized milk is safe to drink. Pasteurization, one of the most significant scientific food safety discoveries in human history, is the process of heating milk to specific temperatures for a certain length of time to kill many microorganisms and enzymes that lead to spoilage and illness. Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other harmful germs that can be found in raw milk. CDPH advises consumers not to drink raw milk or eat raw milk products due to the risk of foodborne illnesses. About Bird Flu Since early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, 28 of whom had direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S. To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections), and none have been hospitalized. Because bird flu viruses can change and gain the ability to spread more easily between people, public health officials have provided preventive measures and are monitoring animal and human infections carefully. Protecting Public Health California continues to take swift and comprehensive action in response to the detection of bird flu in dairy cows across the Central Valley, demonstrating a strong commitment to public health and worker safety. While the overall risk to the public remains low, the state is prioritizing containment efforts, raising public awareness, and providing resources to those at higher risk. Key initiatives include the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), increased testing, and robust surveillance of infected areas. Through coordinated efforts between agencies like CDPH, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and CalOES, California is leading a cross-agency response that includes multilingual outreach to dairy and poultry workers, a targeted social media campaign to promote preventive practices, and media interviews to keep the public informed. Additionally, the state is ensuring that farm workers have access to additional doses of seasonal flu vaccine from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce concurrent flu risks. Specifically, the state is: Working with local, state, and federal partners to monitor bird flu in farm animals and people who work closely with poultry and dairy cows. Distributing protective gear to dairy farms and workers who have contact with infected dairy cows or raw milk to reduce the risk of getting bird flu. Helping ensure individuals with symptoms of or exposure to bird flu have access to testing and treatment. Conducting timely public education efforts to ensure those impacted have information about bird flu. How Bird Flu Spreads Touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after contact with raw milk from an infected cow, or other contaminated items or surfaces. Raw milk from an infected cow splashed into eyes, nose, or mouth. Drinking raw milk from a cow infected with bird flu virus. More Resources For the latest information on the state’s bird flu response, visit CDPH’s Bird Flu webpage and CDFA’s H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock site. For information on the national bird flu response, see CDC's Bird Flu Response Update. For work-related questions or complaints related to bird flu, contact the Cal/OSHA Call Center in English or Spanish at 1-833-579-0927. Employers can contact the California Occupational Health and Safety Division at 800-963-9424 for a free consultation to strengthen their illness and injury safety program. Farmers should contact the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s bird flu hotline at 866-922-2473 if they suspect their animals are infected with bird flu.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is issuing a second warning to Californians to not consume raw milk produced and packaged by Raw Farm, LLC of Fresno County due to a detection of bird flu virus in a second retail sample. At the state’s request, the company has issued a voluntary recall of the affected milk lot code number 20241119 with a Best By date of 12/07/2024 printed on the packaging. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR24-042.aspx

The highly anticipated Presser by Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry updating the status of the British Columbia teen is scheduled for 2 PM EDT today, 11//26/24. In the last update a timeline was discussed but the source of the infection was unknown. The teen was in critical condition and had been H5N1 confirmed. The source was expected to linked to wild birds, and the prevalent genotype in wild birds was D1.1. The full sequence from the teen was uploaded to GISAID A/British_Columbia/PHL-2032/2024 The sequence was clearly D1.1 There were mixed signals at three positions. Two were in the receptor binding domain (RBD) of H5, E190D and Q226H (H3 numbering) The third was in PB2, E627K, a well known mammalian temperature sensitive adaptation, which produce optimal polymerase activity at 41C for E, and 33C for K. The BCCDC (British Columbia Centre for Disease Control) acknoledged E627K, but was silent on the two RBD changes. E190D (and PB2 E627K) were in the sequence from the 1918 pandemic A/Brevig_Mission/1/1918 which was from Brevig Mission which was home to 80 adult mostly Inuit Natives. During the five-day period from November 15-20, 1918, 72 of the 80 adults died, including one who was well preservered in the permafrost and was the souce for the above sequence. The two well studied RBD changes are Q226L and G228S The BC teen has Q226H, which is VERY rare in H5 Today's Presser should discuss the necropsy of the teen's dog, who initially swabbed negative, but a necropsy allows analysis and testing of multiple internal organs, including lungs and brain. The Presser should also cover additional possible sources of the teen's H5N1 infection as well as current condition.

I Ran Operation Warp Speed. I’m Concerned About Bird Flu. Nov. 26, 2024, 5:03 a.m. ET Credit...Steffanie A. Padilla Share full article 2 By David A. Kessler Dr. Kessler was commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration during the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations and was the Biden administration’s chief science officer during Covid-19. As Donald Trump gets ready to return to the White House on Jan. 20, he must be prepared to tackle one issue immediately: the possibility that the spreading avian flu might mutate to enable human-to-human transmission. I was the Biden administration’s chief science officer during Covid-19. I was co-leader of Operation Warp Speed, which began in Mr. Trump’s first term to accelerate the development of Covid-19 vaccines. I worked on the purchase and rollout of hundreds of millions of vaccines and on developing antiviral treatments. One of my jobs was to assess the trajectory of the virus. Now I am back at my job teaching at the medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. I have been monitoring the spread of bird flu, also known as H5N1, and discussing the situation with colleagues around the country. My concern is growing. So far, there have been no reports of person-to-person spread of H5N1, though there have been at least 55 confirmed cases of bird flu in humans in the United States, almost entirely among poultry and dairy workers. Those infections are presumed to be primarily the result of contact with animals. In addition, a child in Alameda County in California with minor respiratory symptoms tested positive for H5N1 recently; it is unclear how the child became infected. There are likely other cases out there that are not being diagnosed. All of those cases have been mild. But a teenager in British Columbia who was infected with the virus is now critically ill. In this instance, too, it is unclear how the teenager became infected. But the virus showed signs that it had mutated in a way that could make it easier to transmit to another person. If this is the case, the virus might then get enough of a foothold to begin human-to-human transmission. Further mutations could evolve that would enhance attachment to human cells. Until the British Columbia case, the recent bird flu infections in humans in North America had been limited to the eyes and nasal passages. But H5N1 becomes deadly when the virus attaches to the lining of the lungs in the lower respiratory tract. This virus has killed before. In 1997, an outbreak of H5N1 in poultry in Hong Kong resulted in 18 animal-to-human infections and six deaths, the first known fatal human infections. Then, in 2003, H5N1 appeared in wild birds in Asia. Outbreaks followed in poultry and resulted in two deaths in people. As outbreaks continued to occur, the mortality rate surpassed 50 percent. Here is where matters stand: The most recent risk assessment from the Johns Hopkins Center for Outbreak Response Innovation, issued on Nov. 19, listed the risk of infection to farm workers as high, and the risk of infection to people in contact with affected farm workers and animals as moderate. The Hopkins report said that “while the immediate risk to the general public and health care workers is still currently low, the long-term consequences of continued, uncontrolled transmissions presents a high risk to all populations.” California has recently seen a significant rise in detections of H5N1 in dairy herds. Experts believe that animals at as many as half the dairy farms in California are infected. That is why it is important to pasteurize milk, which kills the virus. (All milk sold across state lines is pasteurized; 30 states allow the in-state sale of nonpasteurized milk, which is labeled “raw.”) Two states, Colorado and Pennsylvania, have agreed to test pooled milk from all farms before pasteurization to monitor spread. Bulk milk testing should be mandatory in all states with dairy farms to determine the full extent of the infection on these farms and also allow us to contain the virus. As if to underline the importance of such a mandate, bird flu was detected in raw milk bought retail last Thursday from a dairy producer based in Fresno, Calif. Without mandatory testing, bird flu will continue circulating at farms across the country, which substantially increases the risk that the virus mutates and evolves to allow a human-to-human transmission that will be hard to stop. H5N1 has already shown a propensity to rapidly infect hundreds of herds and farms in the United States. Since March, 616 dairy herds in 15 states have been infected with H5N1. And since the onset of the outbreak in February 2022, H5N1 has been detected in poultry in 49 states, affecting a total of 111 million birds. There has also been an increase in H5N1 detections in migratory and commercial birds in the European Union, Canada, Japan and South Korea, compared to 2023. What’s also worrisome is that our arsenal to fight back might not be up to the task. An analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a mutation in people in Washington State who work as poultry cullers might reduce the effectiveness of oseltamivir, also known as Tamiflu, in treating influenza A, a type of flu that includes H5N1 and many other subtypes. And a mutation found in a recent California case could potentially reduce the effectiveness of baloxavir marboxil, another drug used to treat influenza A. In the case of monoclonal antibodies for use against the virus, there are none commercially available at present. These lab-produced antibodies are designed to mimic the body’s immune response and directly target the virus. As for vaccines, there has been modest progress on candidates for mRNA vaccines, which stimulate the body’s own immune system against a specific virus. The candidates could offer more effective countermeasures in response to worrisome mutations. Importantly, the companies that increased production of the mRNA vaccines during Covid-19 are developing bird flu vaccines. Fortunately, the country already has five million doses of the influenza A (H5) vaccine on hand and another five million doses will probably be ready by the end of the year. That is enough to cover the farmworker community. That vaccine is expected to have similar effectiveness to our seasonal flu vaccines, ranging from 30 percent to 70 percent. No one knows how many mutations will be required to set off human-to- human respiratory spread. That could require many mutations and may never happen. But we could also be just two or three mutations away. If the virus begins to transmit efficiently among humans, it will be very difficult to contain, according to the Johns Hopkins assessment, and “the likelihood of a pandemic is very high.” The incoming Trump administration needs to be prepared. David A. Kessler, a physician and lawyer, was the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration during the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations and was the Biden administration’s chief science officer during Covid-19. He was also the dean of the medical schools at Yale and the University of California, San Francisco, where he is now a professor. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: [email protected]. Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, X and Threads. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/opinion/vaccine-bird-flu-pandemic.html

Home Santa Barbara Votes: 2024 General Election Results Best of Santa Barbara® 2024 News Got a Scoop? Arts & Entertainment Santa Barbara Live Music Venues Living Food & Drink Opinion Events Sports Obituaries Real Estate Indy Parenting Cover Stories Extra! Wedding Santa Barbara Green Guide Classifieds Advertise About Us Contact Us Create Event Subscribe Bird Flu Virus Contamination Pulls Raw Milk off Santa Barbara Shelves No Known Illness Resulted from Raw Farm Milk Infected with H5N1 Virus data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyBoZWlnaHQ9IjczMCIgd2lkdGg9IjEwMjQiIHhtbG5zPSJodHRwOi8vd3d3LnczLm9yZy8yMDAwL3N2ZyIgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4xIi8+ One batch of raw milk from Fresno-based Raw Farm has been recalled voluntarily by the dairy after California state labs detected bird flu virus in the milk. Pasteurized milk is unaffected by the recall. | Credit: Courtesy California Department of Public Health By Jean YamamuraMon Nov 25, 2024 | 01:53pm One batch of raw milk from California has tested positive for bird flu, a virus that has sickened herds of dairy cows across the nation, as well as a number of dairy workers. The manufacturer, Raw Farm LLC of Fresno County, voluntarily recalled a “cream top, whole raw milk” with lot code 20241109, expiration date November 27, 2024. While no illnesses have been reported, the California Department of Public Health advises purchasers to return the product to the store where it was purchased. Raw milk from Raw Farm is sold by a number of Santa Barbara grocery stores. Several store employees told the Independent that Raw Farm had contacted them about a recall this Monday morning. The product has been taken off the shelves, they said. The recall does not affect pasteurized milk as the heat of the pasteurization process kills bacteria and viruses, including the bird flu virus — H5N1 — that concerns medical officials. Raw milk products have caused outbreaks of illnesses in the past, from Salmonella, Listeria, and e. Coli, for instance. However, advocates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services — believe raw milk contains more healthy enzymes, vitamins, and probiotics than the pasteurized version. A virus borne by wild birds and waterfowl, H5N1 first affected U.S. poultry in 2021, then spread to dairy cows, likely through common watering holes. While the first human case was a poultry worker in 2022, the second this past March was a dairyman in Texas who reported eye redness, or conjunctivitis, that was traced to H5N1. This first report coming out of Texas also associated the virus with the death of barn cats, and the virus was detected in the milk of infected herds. The virus is shed through bodily liquids, including milk, which has a thick, yellow consistency from cows that are ill. Any such milk was ordered destroyed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, but cows can carry the virus and not appear to be ill. While the virus has a high mortality rate in birds, only 10 percent of cows in an infected herd may show signs of illness, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. As of November 22, the CDC had counted 616 affected dairy herds in 15 states. Thus far, 53 people working in poultry or dairy barns have reported an illness, generally mild, but two other infections are of unknown origin. What concerns health officials is that H5N1 might develop the ability to transmit from human to human. A recent case in California found a household sick with flu, with one child testing positive for H5N1. The rest of the family, however, only had regular respiratory viruses, not the avian variety, and the route of transmission to the child remains unknown. Concern has existed that mild symptoms or a reluctance to report illness has downplayed the number of people infected, thought to occur from splashes during milking. So far, no person-to-person transmission of H5N1 has taken place. U.S. Health and Human Services stated in October that the department has been “preparing for avian influenza outbreak for 20 years,” and has emphasized community health, food safety, farmers, and mitigating risk to both animals and people. Physicians have emphasized that should an outbreak occur, vaccines against H5N1 already exist. The virus has had a huge impact on the dairy industry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has offered aid in the form of personal protection equipment, biosecurity improvements, reimbursement for veterinary costs, and compensation for losses. In the poultry industry, emergency funding was given for birds and eggs that had to be destroyed. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.independent.com/2024/11/25/bird-flu-virus-contamination-pulls-raw-milk-off-santa-barbara-shelves/%3famp=1

Avian influenza virus found in California raw milk sample November 25, 2024 By Larry Lee Filed Under: Dairy, Dairy, Food, Food safety, News A California dairy that sells raw, unpasteurized milk is recalling some of it after tests found the avian influenza virus was present. Dr. Keith Poulson with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory tells Brownfield it is odd to see what has been happening in California with higher raw milk demand during the past few months. “We’ve had stories out of Los Angeles that people’s demand for raw milk has really exploded because people think that if they drink it, they’re going to essentially vaccinate themselves by consuming the antibodies that are produced in that milk, and immunology really doesn’t work that way.” Poulson says H5N1 is probably the least of his concerns with raw milk because there are other pathogens that are shed into milk. “It’s a public health risk and we really don’t want to see raw milk being consumed for multiple different reasons despite the claims for health and well being.” Poulson says pasteurization makes fluid milk safe, and he says the aging process for certain raw milk artisan cheeses also kills pathogens that can affect human health. Fresno County, California-based Raw Farm LLC issued a voluntary recall Sunday for Cream Top whole raw milk from lot No. 20241109 with a “best by” date of Nov. 27 because of the presence of the avian influenza virus. Customers can get refunds from their retailers. https://www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/avian-influenza-virus-found-in-california-raw-milk-sample/