Unlike pasteurized milk, which undergoes a process that kills harmful bacteria, experts say raw milk can carry pathogens that make you sick.

The progressive spread of a highly infectious strain of avian flu virus infections to more mammal species is a concern to scientists, public health officials, and farmers. However, the publicly released genomic data do not include critical information on the outbreak’s origins and evolution.

The US Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that it had detected viral particles of H5N1 avian influenza in milk purchased at grocery stores, but the agency says it still believes that the milk is safe to drink.

The results do not indicate that the virus found in milk is currently infectious, as the pasteurization process works to inactivate viruses.

The discovery of fragments of avian flu virus in milk sold in U.S. stores, including in about 20% of samples in initial testing, suggests that the H5N1 virus may be more widespread in dairy cattle than previously known.

A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza that’s been decimating wild and captive flocks of birds since 2020 has spread among US dairy cows — and has infected one person in Texas exposed to the sick animals.

Spikes of influenza A virus seen in wastewater samples from 59 sewer systems across 18 different states this spring may point to the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that is currently infecting dairy cattle,

Following continued concerns about bird flu and the discovery of viral particles in milk, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is now testing ground beef for the virus, Reuters reports. The news comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed via testing last week that the commercial milk supply in the United States is safe.

Food safety officials say they are testing beef, including ground beef from grocery stores, for the presence of the H5N1 bird flu virus that’s spreading in dairy cattle.