Raw Farm, a dairy farm in Fresno County, California, issued a voluntary recall on November 24 for its cream-top, whole raw milk due to the detection of avian influenza in a retail sample. The affected product, bearing lot code 20241109 and an expiration date of November 27, was recalled after the Santa Clara Public Health Laboratory identified the bird flu virus, which was later confirmed by the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System.
Raw Farm has asked retailers to remove the product and advised consumers to return it for a refund or replacement. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) warned against consuming the milk, although no illnesses have been reported. While tests conducted at Raw Farm’s facilities returned negative for bird flu, CDPH will continue bi-weekly testing.
Consumers who experience symptoms such as cough, fever, eye redness, or body aches after consuming the milk should contact a healthcare provider. The virus can also spread through contact with contaminated milk or surfaces, emphasizing the importance of hygiene.
Raw milk, which is unpasteurized, is praised by some for its nutritional benefits but carries risks of contamination with harmful pathogens like salmonella, E. coli, and listeria, according to the FDA. Vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems, are particularly at risk. California has reported 29 mild human cases of bird flu since October, mostly linked to direct contact with infected dairy cows, underscoring ongoing public health concerns.
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