Bird flu virus detected in raw milk sold in California; recall issued
FRESNO, Calif. - The California Department of Public Health issued a warning Monday to avoid consuming a specific batch of cream top, whole raw milk produced and packaged by Fresno County-based Raw Farm LLC due to a detection of bird flu virus in a retail sample.
At the state's request, the company issued a voluntary recall of the affected product with lot code 20241109 and best by date of 11/27/2024 printed on the packaging. Consumers should immediately return any remaining raw milk to the store where it was purchased. The CDPH is also notifying retailers to remove the affected product from their shelves.
No illnesses have been reported, but health officials -- out of an abundance of caution -- said consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk. Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness. Touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 25: Containers of Raw Farm raw milk are displayed on a shelf at Berkeley Bowl on November 25, 2024 in Berkeley, California. Fresno County dairy Raw Farm has recalled its cream top raw milk after bird flu virus was foun
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 voluntarily recalled product, and is experiencing these symptoms, should immediately contact a health care provider.
State health experts have long warned against consuming raw milk products due to elevated risks of foodborne illness. Outbreaks due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter and other bacteria have 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. Pasteurized milk and milk products are safe to consume because the heating process kills pathogens, including bird flu, that can cause illness, according to health experts.
The County of Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory has been testing raw milk products from retail stores as a second line of consumer protection. The county identified bird flu in one sample of a Raw Milk's product purchased at a retail outlet. The testing was then verified by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.
RELATED: Bird flu detected in California child confirmed to be first case in the US
Since early October, California has reported 29 confirmed human cases of bird flu, and all but one case came from direct contact with infected dairy cows. No person-to-person spread of bird flu has been detected in California or the U.S. To date, all cases have reported mild symptoms (primarily eye infections).
Contaminated milk sold in LA County
Many retailers in Los Angeles may have sold recalled raw milk. Some retailers where the product was sold include:
• Back Door Bakery, 8349 Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA, 91040
• Bristol Farms, 7880 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90046
• Eataly, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90067
• Erewhon Market, 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena, CA 91101
• Erewhon Market, 26767 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302
• Erewhon Market, 4121 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90029
• Erewhon Market, 7660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
• Lassen’s Natural Foods, 1631 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
• Lassen’s Natural Foods, 2080 Hillhurst Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Lassen’s Natural Foods, 710 S. La Brea AVE., Los Angeles, CA 90036
• Lazy Acres, 1841 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90027
• Lazy Acres, 2510 Pacific Coast Highway, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254
• Mothers Market & Kitchen, 6677 W. Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90038
• Mothers Market & Kitchen, 2475 Cherry Ave., Signal Hill, CA 90755
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 1302 S. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles CA 90019
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 1751 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90024
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 8985 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90034
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 915 N. La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90038
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 2245 Yosemite Dr., Eagle Rock, 90041
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 7925 Atlantic Ave., Cudahy CA, 90201
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 5660 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City CA, 90230
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 12060 Lakewood Blvd., Downey, CA 90242
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 14411 Hawthorne Blvd., Lawndale, CA 90260
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 1515 Hawthorne Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA 90278
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 4230 Pacific Coast Hwy., Torrance CA, 90505
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 15801 Whittier Blvd., Whittier, CA 90603
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 11522 Alondra Blvd., Norwalk, CA 90650
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 11900 South St., Cerritos, CA 90703
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 4253 Woodruff Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 820 N. Western Ave., San Pedro, CA 90732
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 4600 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, CA 90804
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 920 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 400 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, CA 91016
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 39 N. Rosemead Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91107
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 6607 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills, CA 91307
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 10821 N. Zelzah Ave., Granada Hills, CA 91344
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 24285 Magic Mountain Pkwy., Valencia, CA 91355
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 21821 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA 91364
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 1011 N. San Fernando Blvd., Burbank, CA 91504
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 11315 Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA 91604
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 835 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont, CA 91711
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 655 S Grand Ave., Glendora, CA 91740
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 1375 Foothill Blvd., La Verne, CA 91750
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 239 S. Diamond Bar Blvd., Diamond Bar, CA 91765
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 2630 E. Workman Ave., West Covina, CA 91791
• Sprouts Farmers Market, 150 E Main St., Alhambra, CA 91801
• Vitamin City LB, 6247 E. Spring St., Long Beach, CA 90808
• Vitamin City, 642 W. Arrow Hwy., San Dimas, CA 91773
• The Whole Wheatery, 44264 10th W, Lancaster, CA 93534