Particles of bird flu have been detected in some samples of pasteurized milk, although the virus in this form is not a threat to humans, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). announced Tuesday.
As an avian flu epidemic spreads through poultry and livestock farming across the country, the FDA has increased testing of the domestic milk supply. Some of the test samples found inactive remains of the bird flu virus, killed during the pasteurization process, the agency said.
“To date, we have not seen anything that would change our assessment that the commercial supply of milk is safe,” the FDA said Tuesday.
The agency is undergoing extensive testing of egg and milk production to ensure these supplies remain safe from the virus, he said. The results of several ongoing safety studies will be released in the coming days.
As of Tuesday night, the virus — known as H5N1 Type A — was found in dairy cows in Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and South Dakota.
Only two people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, including a Texas dairy worker earlier this month. He recovered, suffering from mild symptoms.
The FDA continued to warn against consuming raw eggs and milk, noting that the process of pasteurization and heat treatment of store-bought products ensures their safety.
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