Concerned about bird flu in your store-bought milk? Discover the truth about milk safety and put your worries to rest. Read on to learn more.
We’re certain you’ve heard whispers or caught headlines about bird flu, and if you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered, “Is this something I need to worry about when I’m buying my groceries?” Specifically, a frequently asked question is, “Is my milk safe from bird flu?”
Note, when a pandemic starts making the news, it’s natural for us to become wary about the safety of common food items from the grocery store. It’s important to stay informed and educated. Remember, knowledge is power.
Well, breathe easy because we’re here to dissect this issue for you, providing you with all the necessary information for your peace of mind. So, continue reading to understand more about bird flu and whether it poses a risk to your daily glass of milk. Let’s dive in!
Have you heard the recent news about avian influenza or bird flu being detected in dairy milk in the United States? It sounds scary, but according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bird flu has a low likelihood of causing illness in humans. In fact, an advisory issued this week disclosed that the FDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), are investigating the presence of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cows and their milk.
This disease, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), is highly contagious and often deadly in poultry. However, despite its intimidating name, it is not readily transmissible to humans, even though there have been some recorded infections. The reassuring news is, despite the FDA detecting bird flu in raw milk, as well as traces of the H5N1 virus in milk sold at grocery stores, commercial dairy products are still considered safe to consume. The reason? Almost all of such products (99%), have undergone pasteurization.
That said, it’s important to note that the virus could still be present in raw milk products. Because of this, the FDA has continuously warned consumers about the potential risks associated with consuming them. And they’re not alone in their assessment!
Renowned professor of Infectious Diseases, William Schaffner, MD, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, concurs with the FDA’s assessment. His view is that transmission of the disease, especially from milk, is unlikely. “This is a virus that does not have the genetic capacity to be transmitted from person to person. And this virus has been around in the world, in bird populations for a decade, and it still has not acquired this capacity,” he told Healthline.
To illustrate his unwavering confidence, he added, “I have in my hand a cup of coffee with milk in it. I put milk into my oatmeal. I had no concern about it.” So, in a world of uncertainty, one daily constant you can count on is the safety of your dairy milk.
How did bird flu get into the milk supply?
Did you know that the FDA has recently detected the HPAI virus in dairy cow herds in several areas across the US such as Idaho, Kansas, New Mexico, Texas, and more? Recent updates have also informed us that a federal order, requiring tests for and reporting of HPAI in livestock, has been put into effect. This makes it more crucial than ever to stay informed and alert.
Although the HPAI virus is now found in dairy cows, to this date, only two cases of its transmission to humans have been reported. Casting our minds back to earlier this month, the CDC confirmed an individual in Texas carrying the disease. The individual, after coming into contact with dairy cattle, showed symptoms of conjunctivitis, commonly known as ‘pink eye’, and was given antiviral medication for treatment of the flu.
What might interest you is a similar case of transmission that took place in Colorado in 2022. The infected individual, who had been working around HPAI-infected poultry, tested positive for the disease and experienced fatigue as a symptom. Like the case in Texas, here too, an antiviral was used as a treatment for the individual.
Zoonotic diseases, or diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans, are more common than you may think. In fact, the CDC tells us that a significant 60% of infectious diseases in humans are spread from animals and a whopping 75% of emerging diseases in people are found to come from animals. This makes our understanding and prevention of these diseases of paramount importance.
In more shocking news, transmission can also occur between different animal species such as birds and cows. It’s as simple as this: when wild birds drink water and feed along their migratory path, they can expel the HPAI virus through their oral, urinary, and fecal secretions. This creates an environment where the virus can possibly infect mammals.
Considering the environment in a feedlot, you can see how rapid the spread of the virus could be. Specially in herds that are densely packed together–where there’s an abundance of cow saliva, urine and feces–transmission among cows could be relatively effortless. It’s a startling thought, and one that should remind us all of the importance of practicing good hygiene not just for ourselves, but also for the livestock we maintain.
Why commercial dairy products are still considered safe for people
Although HPAI virus particles have been detected in pasteurized milk, it’s important to acknowledge that the risk of transmission is extremely low. However, the possibility of transmission in raw milk can’t be entirely dismissed. Joseph Lambson, PharmD, Director of the New Mexico Poison and Drug Information Center, and an Assistant Professor at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, reassures us. He points out, “The FDA doesn’t have any concerns that our milk supply is contaminated and see no health threat or concerns for consumers at this time.”
He goes on to echo the FDA’s years-long warnings against consuming raw milk and products made from raw milk. The reason is quite clear: they increase the risk of infection. He underscores that this list of risky consumables may well include products affected by highly virulent forms of avian flu such as HPAI. To drive this point home, the FDA has issued warnings stating that raw milk can carry dangerous pathogens, including Salmonella, Listeria, and Campylobacter.
On the brighter side, commercially available milk goes through a rigorous pasteurization process. The treatment heats, then cools the milk to destroy pathogens. This process has been a cornerstone of public health measures for over a century in the United States. Sylvia Ley, PhD, an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, explains, “Pasteurization is required by the FDA if you’re moving milk products from one state to another. They have to follow a specific temperature and time. That should kill the virus. The inactive virus may be present, but it won’t be able to multiply, so you can drink it safely.”
While viral fragments may survive the pasteurization process, they do not pose a risk to consumer health. On a reassuring note, both the FDA and the USDA have confirmed that milk from sick cows is actively being routed away from the public food supply. This alone significantly reduces the chances of any contamination reaching consumers.
Lambson encourages anyone who suspects they may have consumed a contaminated product to reach out to their local poison control center. Not only can the centers provide medical advice about potential symptoms and treatment options, they can also track upticks in exposures to toxins or contaminants – a crucial factor in identifying potential health issuesearly.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, despite the recent detection of avian influenza in dairy milk by the FDA, there is great comfort in knowing that it poses little to no risk to us when consuming commercial milk products, thanks to the pasteurization process. It’s important, however, to be mindful when consuming raw milk, where the virus could potentially be present. Notably, it’s worth highlighting that human transmission of this virus is still remarkably rare, with only two recent known cases reported. As we venture into an era of increasing vigilance and refined testing, let’s maintain our faith in the resilience and safety of our food system.
