A statewide recall has been issued by the California Department of Food and Agriculture for raw milk produced by Valley Milk Simply Bottled due to the presence of H5N1 bird flu virus in samples from a dairy farm. The affected products, including Valley Milk and Desi Milk, are marked with dates between December 23 and December 30.
The recall applies to quarter, half-gallon, or gallon jugs of raw milk and cream. No illnesses have been reported directly linked to this specific recall, but the agency is urging consumers not to use the products and retailers to pull them from shelves.
Previous recalls in California have highlighted the risks associated with unpasteurized dairy products. Raw milk has not undergone a heating process that kills harmful germs like bird flu virus, listeria, salmonella, E. coli, and Campylobacter, which can cause serious illnesses in vulnerable populations such as children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems.
The California Department of Public Health reported at least 12 recent illnesses linked to raw milk consumption, although none were directly caused by the bird flu virus. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recently issued a warning about the risks of consuming raw milk products or feeding them to pets after reports of pet cats becoming sick and dying after ingesting recalled products.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/19/health/california-bird-flu-raw-milk-recall/index.html