Milk Quality

FDA Says New Round of Tests Prove the U.S. Milk Supply is Safe From H5N1 Virus

Thu, 02 May 2024 13:04:55 GMT

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is once again confirming the milk supply is safe with a new round of tests as proof. The latest round of tests come as the U.S. dairy industry continues to battle the outbreak of HPAI H5N1 in cows.

Just days after FDA and USDA confirmed viral material of highly pathogenic avian influenza was found in retail milk samples , FDA says further testing shows pasteurization is killing the virus. A lab at St. Judes Children’s Hospital is taking the genetic material found in the milk and culturing it in live eggs to ensure it didn’t regrow.

According to FDA, the additional testing confirms the safety of the commercial milk supply with what it calls substantial data. The tests were done on 297 samples of milk from 38 states. FDA also tested retail powdered infant formula and says all results were negative.

International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) tells AgWeb this also confirms the requirement of pasteurization, or heat treatment, of milk in order to move interstate in this country, works in killing all bacteria and viruses.

“The testing that the FDA has continued to release has only cemented that further,” says Matt Herrick, senior vice president of public affairs and communications at IDFA. “The results they received at the end of the week on Friday, determined that the virus was in fact dead. So it would not regrow and would not infect, and pasteurization, at the standard times and temperatures under the federal pasteurized milk ordinance, is effective.”

IDFA also adds more than 99% of all the milk and dairy products in our country are pasteurized.

“And that’s been ongoing for decades and decades,” he says. “And that’s what ensures the safety of our commercial milk supply.”

Related News: USDA Now Requiring Mandatory Testing and Reporting of HPAI in Dairy Cattle as New Data Suggests Virus Outbreak is More Widespread

A week ago Tuesday, the FDA also reassured consumers the pasteurized milk they drink is safe after the agency announced retail milk samples tested positive for fragments of HPAI H5N1. Further testing by a lab at St Jude’s Childrens Hospital showed the virus is not live, which means there is no risk to human health. However, FDA noted additional testing was still being done.

Dr. Richard Webby runs the lab at St. Jude that conducted the testing. He told AgWeb his lab confirmed there is no virus in any of the retail milk samples, but says it was a small sample set they’ve tested so far and more testing is coming. He says even with the limited tests completed so far, his findings show pasteurization is killing the virus.

“It is actually expected that RNA will remain in the milk after pasteurization. Heating (pasteurization) will kill the virus but won’t necessarily destroy the genetic material of the virus (RNA). On its own, the RNA isn’t infectious. It is important to reiterate that the presence of RNA does not mean there is live virus. In contrast, our data says there is no live virus,” Webby told AgWeb.

He says genetic material of the virus, or RNA, is similar to the DNA inside human cells and provides the code to make all of the proteins the virus needs. However, he says while it’s key for influenza viruses, this is different from other viruses in that on its own, the RNA can’t do anything.

“It has to be nicely coated in virus proteins and delivered properly to the inside of a cell. Pasteurization destroys this part,” he explains.

Related News: A Message to the Ag Industry about H5N1

Considering his lab was unsuccessful at regrowing the virus, he says the testing confirmed the RNA in milk is from dead virusses, and therefore, the milk can’t cause any infection.

“In my opinion, based on the small data set we have, yes, the milk is safe,” he says. “I am still consuming it at home.”

Webby points out there is much more researchers still need to learn about HPAI H5N1, especially in cattle. He says influenza in cows is new, and the industry continues to learn as more research is conducted.

In late March, USDA APHIS confirmed the mystery illness that was impacting dairy herds in the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico and Kansas now had a diagnosis: Influenza A. USDA says genetic sequencing revealed it was the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that’s been in the U.S. for two years. The outbreak has now been confirmed in nine states , however, it’s unclear how many herds it’s impacting.

The CDC claims the outbreak has been confirmed in 36 herds , but testing of retail milk samples last week put that number into question. Viral fragments were found in nearly 40% of the milk samples tested, indicating the outbreak is more widespread that current government reports.

South Dakota Farmers Impacted by a Double Punch of Storms in May

Tue, 31 May 2022 17:55:09 GMT

In mid-May, eastern South Dakota and parts of Minnesota were hit by a derecho – a large-scale windstorm with 90-to 100-mph straight winds. The damage was felt by many farmers throughout the region, with one dairy farm, Global Dairy in Estelline, having to relocate 1,700 cows overnight.

It was no small feat relocating that number of cattle, but Victory Farms in Milbank came to the rescue, taking in all 1,700 cows and housing them on their nearby older dairy facility. The owner, Kevin Souza, stated, “It doesn’t matter how long it takes. Arjan [one of the owners] is one of those guys that is always willing to help others out. So, when he called needing help, it was a pretty easy decision to help him out because he’s that type of person to everyone else.”

The next round of storms hit the same area two weeks later. Over Memorial Day weekend, a series of severe storms that brought strong winds, heavy rain, hail and multiple tornado watches and warnings, impacted South Dakota. Unfortunately, this time, Victory Farms was in the path. And while they report no cows or people were injured, the farm suffered some loss that makes their long days grow even longer.

“Our shop and one calf barn suffered complete loss,” Souza reports.

His wife, Suzanne, posted on Facebook that cleanup started right after the storm passed.

“We were told that it was a tornado that possibly went through our area,” she wrote. “To have damage at farms 7 miles apart is hard to take, but everyone including the cattle are safe. Proud of Kevin, the kids and our employees for picking up and keeping things going with cleaning up and the day-to-day operations. [On] May 12 we moved cattle onto our place to help another farmer who got hit and lost their parlor. We are thankful for their employees that are helping us pick up the pieces. Dairy farmers have a special bond and no matter how near or far, a hand is always available to help out.”

Victory Farms milks 5,500 cows and is currently housing Global Dairy’s 1,700 cows that were displaced due to the derecho. Souza says they were fortunate to not have suffered more loss than they did.

“We feel lucky that we didn’t suffer more loss,” he says. “We moved the calves to another open barn and it’s business as usual here.”

Evan Grong, the transportation and milk procurement manager with Valley Queen, said the Memorial Day storms did not cause any injuries or have an impact on dairy production or processing for area producers or Valley Queen.

“There were some reports of damage to buildings and equipment on area farms. The impacts of yesterday’s storms are still being felt today with several area roads underwater from the heavy rainfall,” Grong says. “Area producers continue cleanup efforts from this second round of severe weather in the region. Valley Queen reminds all motorists to use extreme caution while driving and to watch for downed power lines and flooded roadways.”

AgSource Gains Agronomy Lab and Brand Update

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 15:41:15 GMT

Just announced, a broad-based agricultural service cooperative specializing in laboratory testing, AgSource Cooperative Services, recently acquired Dairyland Laboratories, Inc. Agronomy Services Division in Stratford, Wisconsin. Effective on March 23, all soil, plant tissues and manure analyses, as well as nutrient management services will be provided by AgSource.

Dave Smercina, vice president of laboratory operations for AgSource, says, “We look forward to enhancing our network while maintaining the same quality service you’ve come to trust from Dairyland.”

Another change for the AgSource brand was recently announced by URUS, the parent company of the AgSource and VAS brands. On March 1, both companies began operating as independent brands under the URUS umbrella.

“Founded on cooperative principles, AgSource’s commitment to the agricultural community is unwavering,” Smercina says. “We look forward to providing exceptional service and value through cutting-edge laboratory analysis and high-value consultative services, as we have for the past 60 years.”

Kevin Muxlow, chief operating officer for URUS, states, “In a world of evolving technology and data analysis, we wanted to provide clarity for the AgSource and VAS brands. This allows us to focus on the services that make each brand superior in the market, allowing our teams’ pride, passion and value to shine for our members and customers.”

AgSource is one of the only full-service DHI providers in the country.