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USDA Implements Mandatory Milk Testing Amid H5N1 Outbreak
In response to an alarming surge of avian influenza cases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has mandated that every state test its milk supply for H5N1, the virus responsible for bird flu. This decision comes as over 700 dairy herds nationwide have reported infections, primarily concentrated in California and several Mountain states.
E.B. Flory, Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture director of food safety, explained that Vermont will likely conduct tests at its dairy processing plants rather than individual farms. This more streamlined approach aims to quickly identify potentially infected milk, allowing for effective tracing back to the farms involved. “This will enable better control and quicker identification of infected animals,” Flory stated.
Though H5N1 has not been detected in dairy cattle in the Northeast, Flory emphasized the importance of the new testing program, which USDA hopes to implement by the end of the month. USDA has been conducting random testing since the virus first appeared in dairy cattle in March 2024, but this federal order now establishes a formal obligation for states to test their dairy supplies and report results back to Washington.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented on the initiative, highlighting the collaborative efforts of federal, state, and industry partners to address the issue. “This new milk testing strategy will provide states with a roadmap to protect the health of their dairy herds and give farmers greater confidence in the safety of their animals,” Vilsack remarked.
While the USDA’s testing will focus on raw milk headed for pasteurization, it will not impose additional warnings about the safety of raw milk sold directly from farms, which Vermont has permitted since 2009.
As USDA ramps up its efforts, the agricultural community remains vigilant about safeguarding the nation’s dairy industry.
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Photo credit www.vermontpublic.org
