USA: Dairy organizations offer statement on HPAI in cows

Cow Milk

Dairy

United States

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Innovation & Technology

Published Mar 28, 2024

Tridge summary

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported rare cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle herds in Texas and Kansas, but assures there is no threat to human health, with milk and dairy products remaining safe due to pasteurization. Dairy producers are enhancing biosecurity measures and working closely with federal and state authorities, as well as the FDA and international partners, to maintain the safety and quality of U.S. dairy products. The industry is also advocating against unnecessary trade restrictions, emphasizing the effectiveness of pasteurization in ensuring food safety and the importance of adhering to World Organization for Animal Health standards to preserve market access.

Disclaimer: The above summary was generated by a state-of-the-art LLM model and is intended for informational purposes only. It is recommended that readers refer to the original article for more context.

Original content

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two dairy cattle herds in Texas and two herds in Kansas. Importantly, USDA confirmed that there is no threat to human health and milk and dairy products remain safe to consume. Pasteurization (high heat treatment) kills harmful microbes and pathogens in milk, including the influenza virus. Also, routine testing and well-established protocols for U.S. dairy will continue to ensure that only safe milk enters the food supply. In keeping with the federal Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), milk from sick cows must be collected separately and is not allowed to enter the food supply chain. This means affected dairy cows are segregated, as is normal practice with any animal health concern, and their milk does not enter the food supply. Consumers in the United States and around the world can remain confident in the safety and quality of U.S. dairy. Dairy producers with ...

Source: The Cattle Site