Unpasteurized raw milk has become a popular health trend in the U.S., partly endorsed by incoming Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. However, bird flu virus has now been detected in raw milk sold in American stores.

An outbreak of H5N1 bird flu among dairy cattle has led to the discovery of live virus in unpasteurized raw milk available in grocery stores in California. Authorities are warning against consuming raw milk, as it can cause illness and infections through ingestion, inhalation, or contact with the eyes, nose, or mouth after handling the milk.

Despite these risks, the raw milk and “clean food” trend has seen a sales increase of over 20% in the past year. The movement has gained support from public figures, including Kennedy Jr., who has previously pledged to curb what he called the government’s “aggressive suppression” of vitamins, clean foods, and raw milk.

The H5N1 virus was detected during food safety inspections of a batch of milk from Raw Farm, one of California’s largest suppliers of raw milk. Experts warn that the spread of bird flu increases the risk of mutations that could potentially allow human-to-human transmission.

In the U.S., 55 human cases of H5N1 infection have been reported, 32 of which are linked to contact with infected cows and milk, primarily from farms in California. However, no cases of bird flu have been identified in people who consumed raw milk from the contaminated batch I California, according to authorities.

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Photo: Nataliia Vladimirova, Unsplash