The detection of H5 bird flu virus in a retail sample of recalled raw milk prompted a warning Tuesday from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
While no illnesses associated with the recalled raw milk have been reported in LA County, many retailers in the area may have sold the potentially contaminated product, according to the department.
After a request from state health officials, The Raw Farm LLC issued a voluntary recall of cream top, whole raw milk with lot code 20241109 and “best by” date of 11/27/2024 printed on the packaging. Members of the public should immediately return any remaining product to store from which it was purchased, according to the county health department.
Some retailers where the product was sold in LA County include:
- Back Door Bakery, 8349 Foothill Blvd., Sunland;
- Eataly, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles;
- Erewhon Market, 475 S. Lake Ave., Pasadena;
- Erewhon Market, 26767 Agoura Road, Calabasas;
- Erewhon Market, 4121 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles;
- Erewhon Market, 7660 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles;
- Lazy Acres, 1841 N. Western Ave., Los Angeles;
- Vitamin City LB, 6247 E. Spring St., Long Beach;
- Vitamin City, 642 W. Arrow Highway, San Dimas; and
- The Whole Wheatery, 44264 10th St. W, Lancaster.
More retail stores may be added to the list as the investigation continues, officials said.
Despite the lack of reported illnesses, “out of an abundance of caution, and due to the ongoing spread of H5 bird flu in dairy cows, poultry, and sporadic human cases, consumers should not consume any of the affected raw milk,” according to a county statement.
The county health department has also told retailers to remove the possibly contaminated raw milk from shelves. Health inspectors plan to visit retail businesses where the milk was sold to ensure that it is no longer available for purchase, officials said.
Raw milk is milk that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria. Pasteurization is a heating process that kills germs and makes milk safer to drink while not eliminating milk’s nutritional value.
For more information on bird flu in humans, see ph.lacounty.gov/acd/diseases/h5n1.htm, and in animals, ph.lacounty.gov/vet/HPAI.htm.