Raw milk recalled in California due to bird flu: this is the affected product and what you should do if you bought it

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that bird flu has been detected in a sample of raw milk taken from a store in Fresno, California. As a result, a recall of the product has been issued, and consumers are warned not to consume it.

The sample was collected on November 21 during a routine inspection conducted by Santa Clara County health officers. This detection of the virus comes amid an ongoing bird flu outbreak in California, which has affected 402 cattle herds since August.

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What product is affected by bird flu?

Specifically, the product found to contain bird flu is a batch of cream top, whole raw milk from Raw Farm, LLC. The recall applies to bottles with the following lot code and Best By date printed on the package.

• Lot code: 20241109.
• Best By date: 11/27/2024

If you have one of these bottles of raw milk, the Department of Public Health warns you to “immediately return any remaining product to the retail point of purchase” and under no circumstances should you consume any of the affected raw milk.

What is raw milk?

Raw milk is different from most milk sold in stores, as it has not been pasteurized. Pasteurization is a process designed to kill harmful germs and viruses by heating dairy products to high temperatures.

According to the official CDPH statement, “pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness.”

Public health officials and experts strongly advise against consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to the risk of illnesses. According to the CDPH, “outbreaks caused by Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin-producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria have all been reported in connection with consuming raw dairy products.”

How does bird flu affect humans?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 55 cases of bird flu in humans have been reported in 2024. Last week, the first identified case in California involved a child. The CDC stated that the child experienced mild symptoms, was treated with antiviral medication, and is recovering.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans include eye redness, runny nose, cough, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, body aches, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, or fever.

Additionally, the most common ways to contract bird flu, according to the CDPH, include:

• 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 splashing into the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Drinking raw milk from a cow infected with the bird flu virus.

If you experience any of these symptoms, the California Department of Public Health recommends contacting your health-care provider or local health department immediately.

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*This article was written in Spanish and translated with the help of AI.

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