FDA testing aged raw cow's milk cheese for bird flu

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will begin collecting samples of raw cow's milk cheese from across the U.S. to test for the presence of bird flu, spurred on by the ongoing outbreaks of H5N1 in multiple states.

In the announcement published Monday, the FDA said the goal of testing will be two-fold: detecting the H5N1 virus and taking the necessary follow-up actions to protect consumers.

Raw, unpasteurized milk is a known vector of bird flu when derived from infected cow herds. It can also contain pathogens such as E. coli, salmonella, and both Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria.

The agency will collect 300 samples of raw cow's milk cheese from warehouses and distribution hubs, not retail locations, from across the country. It expects the collection period to last until March though it may be extended.

Samples will come from raw cow’s milk cheese that has been aged a minimum of 60 days, the duration which the U.S. requires raw milk cheese to be aged to mitigate the spread of pathogens. FDA field staff will collect samples from products labeled as aged raw cow’s milk cheese.

The FDA said it plans to publish its findings once the assignment is completed.

While it is federally illegal to trade raw milk across state lines, several states have loosened restrictions on raw milk sales within their borders in recent years.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 66 cases of bird flu in humans have been confirmed in the U.S. this year since March, with about two-thirds of cases being linked to dairy herds.

"Any samples that test positive for viable virus will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. This means that depending on the findings, the FDA will consider next steps, which may include actions needed to address contaminated product, such as a recall, follow-up inspection, or other possible responses to protect public health," the FDA stated, adding that the U.S. Department of Agriculture and relevant state public health officials would also be notified.

California secured a voluntary recall of raw milk from the company Raw Farm LLC earlier this month after bird flu was detected in several of its products. While the recall applied to Raw Farm's raw whole milk and cream, California health officials have advised consumers against consuming any of the company's products.

The FDA's assignment begins as a prominent raw milk proponent advances closer to wielding immense influence over the agency. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, has previously said he only drinks raw milk and has stated expanding access to the product is part of his wish list for the FDA.