FDA confirms safety of milk and dairy products

By Scout Nelson

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently confirmed the safety of milk and dairy products available in grocery stores. On April 23, 2024, the FDA reported finding fragments of the H5N1 virus in milk through quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) tests.

These tests do not determine the viability of the virus, meaning detected fragments could be from non-infectious, inactive viruses.

By April 26, 2024, the FDA shared that egg inoculation tests, which are the benchmark for detecting live viruses, indicated that pasteurization processes effectively neutralize the virus. No live, infectious viruses were found in the samples that had initially tested positive by qPCR.

This includes tests conducted on various dairy products such as cottage cheese, sour cream, and fluid milk, which all showed negative results for the presence of any live infectious virus, as announced recently.

The FDA tested several retails powdered infant formulas and powdered milk products marketed as toddler formula. All tests returned negative qPCR results, reaffirming that these products are free from any viral contamination.

The FDA continues to evaluate pooled raw milk, which is designated for commercial pasteurization and processing. This ongoing testing aims to measure potential virus levels that might be encountered during pasteurization, helping to enhance safety protocols.

The FDA has reaffirmed that the commercial milk supply is secure, bolstering consumer confidence in dairy products. This series of testing and results ensures that pasteurization remains a strong method for safeguarding the public against potential health risks in milk and dairy products.

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