Calif. halts Raw Farm milk distribution after bird flu detection

DAILY Bites

• CDFA halted Raw Farm’s operations after bird flu was detected in milk samples

• California reports new cases in cattle, poultry, and two more human infections

• Officials urge avoiding raw milk and highlight pasteurized milk’s safety

DAILY Discussion

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has suspended all distribution of raw milk products from Raw Farm LLC after samples tested positive for the avian flu virus.

CDFA spokesperson Steve Lyle said, “All Raw Farm operations are currently under quarantine, from herds to bottled product, which means that all raw milk product distribution is suspended.”

The suspension comes after CDFA dairy inspectors collected samples from both bottled products and bulk milk storage at Raw Farm’s facility on November 27. Lab results released a day later confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus. Lyle added, “All milk tested by CDFA remained at the Raw Farm plant and was not released to consumers.”

The quarantine follows a series of public health warnings related to Raw Farm’s products. Earlier in the year, a salmonella outbreak linked to the farm affected dozens of individuals, marking a significant health incident that led officials to urge consumers to avoid unpasteurized dairy products. In 2023, cheese from the farm was linked to an E. coli outbreak that impacted at least 10 consumers.

These warnings have intensified as bird flu spreads among California dairy herds, particularly in the Central Valley, the epicenter of the outbreaks since late summer.

Raw Farm was formerly known as Organic Pastures Dairy LLC and is currently on the California Certified Organic Farmers roster and is Non-GMO Project verified. According to reporting by Reuters, Raw Farm is the largest U.S. raw milk dairy, with 1,700 cows producing 70,000 gallons of milk weekly. Owner Mark McAfee said that Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is a customer that and McAfee is being vetted by Kennedy’s team for a potential policy position at the FDA.

 The contaminated batches from Raw Farm were detected through testing by the Santa Clara County Public Health Laboratory. The farm voluntarily recalled the affected products, and no human illnesses linked to these batches have been reported so far.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that retail samples tested positive for avian flu, even as state-level bulk milk tests initially did not detect the virus. This discrepancy has prompted additional testing at the farm, with results still pending. Following these findings, Raw Farm was banned from distributing raw milk products, and its facilities remain under strict quarantine. The department has listed 49 retailers, primarily Sprouts Farmers Market locations, that sold the recalled milk.

According to the CDPH, raw milk poses significant public health risks, as it bypasses the pasteurization process, which kills harmful pathogens like avian flu. According to health experts, drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing the virus, or touching contaminated surfaces, can lead to infection. Symptoms of bird flu in humans include eye redness, cough, sore throat, fever, and in severe cases, respiratory issues. Officials recommend that anyone experiencing these symptoms after consuming raw milk contact a healthcare provider immediately.

As part of the containment effort, CDFA has increased raw milk testing and is coordinating with the California Department of Public Health and federal agencies. Measures include heightened surveillance, distribution of protective gear to dairy workers, and public education campaigns. While the risk to the general public remains low, officials emphasize the importance of adhering to safety measures and avoiding raw milk products.