FDA Finds No Viable H5N1 in 17% of 167 US Dairy Samples

Aug 13, 2024, 07:38 PM

The FDA, in coordination with the USDA, conducted a second study testing retail samples of dairy products for the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus. The study found that about 17% of the samples contained genetic material from the virus, but no viable virus was detected. The testing included 167 samples from 27 states, covering a range of products such as milk, butter, ice cream, and various cheeses, including those made from raw milk. The findings provide further evidence that pasteurization effectively kills the virus, though questions remain about the safety of raw milk cheese.