(NAFB) A Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreak in dairy cattle herds is making news headlines and causing concern among consumers. Adam Brock is the administrator of the Division of Food and Recreational Safety for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture. He says consumers need to know that the U.S. milk supply is safe.
“Yeah, that’s correct. There’s a very low risk of anybody contracting avian influenza from their milk supply. There are procedures and hurdles in place and, as always, pasteurized milk you get from your local Kwik Trip or wherever you’re going, that’s all gonna be pasteurized. Your cheese is all taken care of with plenty of food safety hurdles, so milk is not a concern. I would not be concerned about drinking milk. In fact, I had some this morning.”
The pasteurization process takes all kinds of bugs out of the milk supply. “Exactly. I mean, pasteurization prevents and reduces the growth of bacteria. You know, it takes care of pathogens, viruses, and different things, so as long as you’re drinking pasteurized milk, eating pasteurized cheese, which is only available on the market, you’re in good shape, so 99 percent of consumers. To be transparent, there are some raw cheese makers in the U.S. right, and some in Wisconsin, but right now it’s not a concern. You know, I know we’re talking about milk safety, but for those of you that eat your eggs and your meats, it’s also safe.”
