Raw Farm LLC ordered to recall raw milk for a second time because of bird flu

California health officials have issued another warning and recall for unpasteurized milk from Raw Farm LLC because a second batch has tested positive for bird flu.

Raw Farm, based in Fresno, issued a recall at the request of the California Department of Public Health in relation to the positive test. The affected raw milk is marked with lot code 20241119 and a best-by date of Dec. 7. The recalled raw milk was distributed to dozens of retail locations, including Sprouts Markets.

The health department is telling consumers to immediately return the recalled raw milk to the store where it was purchased. Pasteurized milk remains safe to drink. 

“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,” according to the health department’s warning.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was onsite at Raw Farm’s milk processing facility on Nov. 27, collecting additional samples of stored bulk tank milk and bottled products in relation to a previous recall. Results from that additional testing are pending. 

As with the testing that led to the dairy’s Nov. 24 recall, the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory tested raw milk products from retail stores in their county as a second line of consumer protection against H5N1, also referred to as bird flu. The county identified bird flu in this second sample of raw milk purchased at a retail outlet, the health department reported.

“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,” according to the health department’s warning.  

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 raw milk, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact their health care provider or local health department.

As part of the California’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 began regular testing of raw milk in bulk tanks. In response to these recent positive tests from two retail raw milk batches, the agriculture department followed up with immediate additional sampling and testing at Raw Farm. 

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, according to the public health department. Pasteurization kills the bird flu virus and other harmful germs including E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria 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.

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