Concerns about possible transmission to people drinking unpasteurized milk are being talked about a lot. Apparently they fed mice unpasteurized milk, and they got the virus, but it seems like the temperature required to kill. The virus is higher than what they used to sterilize the milk. How is this safe?
In: Biology
I know people are concerned about this but current pasteurization process for “Grade A” milk is sufficient to kill bird flu and other flu viruses. According to the FDA”
“The FDA and USDA have indicated that based on the information we currently have, our commercial milk supply is safe because of both the pasteurization process and that milk from sick cows is being diverted or destroyed. The federal-state milk safety system, and the Grade “A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, have proven effective for decades against a wide range of pathogens. Data from previous studies shows that pasteurization is very likely to effectively inactivate heat-sensitive viruses in fluid milk. Furthermore, thermal inactivation of HPAI has been successful during the pasteurization process for eggs, which occurs at lower temperatures than what is used for fluid milk. Given this is a novel and evolving situation, the FDA and USDA are working closely to collect and evaluate additional data and information specific to HPAI A (H5N1) to support our state co-regulators as they manage this emerging disease in dairy cattle. ”
[https://www.fda.gov/food/milk-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/questions-and-answers-regarding-milk-safety-during-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai-outbreaks](https://www.fda.gov/food/milk-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/questions-and-answers-regarding-milk-safety-during-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai-outbreaks)
As a virologist myself, don’t confuse the deadliness of a virus with it stability. Flu viruses are not the most hardy viruses out there when things like milk are being heat treated. Grade A milk covers 99% of all milk in the U.S. I suspect the remaining one percent might be those few people who drink unpasteurized milk, but not sure. I would never recommend someone drink raw milk, even if there was no bird flu going around. That is a great way to infect yourself with pathogens that can be found in milk. If it is pasteurized you good drink away, it is safe.
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