USDA, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and their state partners continue to be in contact with each other regarding the H5N1 outbreak among dairy cows. The multiple entities are monitoring the situation for not only animal health and welfare, but also for public food safety.

According to FDA, “FDA and USDA have indicated that based on the information currently available, our commercial milk supply is safe because of these two reasons: 1) the pasteurization process and 2) the diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows.”

For more than 100 years, pasteurization has been shown to kill harmful bacteria and viruses by heating milk to a specific temperature for a set period of time. Ninety-nine percent of the commercial milk supply produced on U.S. dairy farms is under the Grade A milk program, which follows the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. There is a two-pronged approach to the federal-state milk safety system: pasteurization and diversion or destruction of milk from sick cows, according to FDA.

To date, FDA and CDC surveillance systems do not show any unusual trends in flu-like illness, flu or conjunctivitis, FDA reports.

Recent media reports have announced that viral particles have been found in retail milk samples. “Based on available information, pasteurization is likely to inactivate the virus; however, the process is not expected to remove the presence of viral particles,” the FDA reports. “Therefore, some of the samples collected have indicated the presence of HPAI [highly pathogenic avian influenza] using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) testing.” To date, FDA reports that it has seen nothing that would change its assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe.

The National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Gregg Doud issued a statement April 24. “USDA, FDA and scientific research has established what accumulated science indicated all along: The consumer milk supply is safe. Pasteurization renders the H5N1 virus, like other viruses, inactive, an important reminder to consumers of its value as a basic safeguard for human health. We appreciate that these agencies are sharing this message, which will help alleviate any concerns consumers may have.

“That said, the presence of this virus in dairy herds, as well as dairy farmers’ own commitment to animal and human health, makes USDA’s actions on testing and interstate travel appropriate. Dairy farmers stand ready to take a proactive approach to ensuring that we better understand the spread of the virus, do what we can to limit that spread, and ensure the health of our animals and workers.”