USDA Is Testing Ground Beef After Bird Flu Found in Dairy Cows
Source: The DairyNews
The U.S. government announced its initiative on Monday to gather ground beef samples from retail stores across states experiencing bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows for rigorous testing, affirming its confidence in the safety of the meat supply.
Federal authorities are actively examining the safety of both milk and meat following the identification of the H5N1 virus in 34 dairy cattle herds across nine states since late March, alongside one confirmed case in a Texan individual. Although both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization have emphasized the overall low public health risk, caution is advised, particularly for those with potential exposure to infected animals.
Experts suggest that outbreaks might be more prevalent in cows than officially reported, as evidenced by the detection of H5N1 particles in approximately 20% of milk samples. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reassured on Friday that pasteurization effectively eliminates the bird flu virus in milk.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to analyze retail ground beef samples using PCR tests to detect any presence of viral particles and will undertake two additional safety studies. These measures come in response to the need to safeguard public health and curb the spread of animal disease, as highlighted by Sarah Little, spokesperson for the Meat Institute, an industry group representing meat processors.
In a bid to contain the virus, USDA has commenced mandating negative bird flu tests for lactating dairy cows before interstate movement. However, cows transported directly to slaughter facilities are exempt from this requirement, needing only documentation of veterinary inspection.
Prior to entering the human food supply, USDA ensures thorough inspection of each animal before slaughter, with all cattle carcasses mandated to pass post-slaughter inspection.
Furthermore, USDA is now procuring beef muscle samples from slaughtered dairy cattle condemned due to concerns of viral particle presence. Any positive PCR tests from retail or slaughter samples will undergo assessment for live virus, as per USDA statements.
Concurrently, USDA is conducting a safety study involving the cooking of ground beef with a "virus surrogate" at varying temperatures to assess virus inactivation, emphasizing the importance of cooking meat to safe internal temperatures to eliminate bacteria and viruses.
Colombia has imposed restrictions on the import of beef and beef products from U.S. states affected by dairy cow avian influenza as of April 15, according to USDA reports. Notably, there have been no reported cases of bird flu in beef cattle to date.
The singular human case in the current outbreak was identified in a Texas farm worker who developed conjunctivitis following exposure to infected dairy cows.
Experts suggest that outbreaks might be more prevalent in cows than officially reported, as evidenced by the detection of H5N1 particles in approximately 20% of milk samples. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reassured on Friday that pasteurization effectively eliminates the bird flu virus in milk.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is set to analyze retail ground beef samples using PCR tests to detect any presence of viral particles and will undertake two additional safety studies. These measures come in response to the need to safeguard public health and curb the spread of animal disease, as highlighted by Sarah Little, spokesperson for the Meat Institute, an industry group representing meat processors.
In a bid to contain the virus, USDA has commenced mandating negative bird flu tests for lactating dairy cows before interstate movement. However, cows transported directly to slaughter facilities are exempt from this requirement, needing only documentation of veterinary inspection.
Prior to entering the human food supply, USDA ensures thorough inspection of each animal before slaughter, with all cattle carcasses mandated to pass post-slaughter inspection.
Furthermore, USDA is now procuring beef muscle samples from slaughtered dairy cattle condemned due to concerns of viral particle presence. Any positive PCR tests from retail or slaughter samples will undergo assessment for live virus, as per USDA statements.
Concurrently, USDA is conducting a safety study involving the cooking of ground beef with a "virus surrogate" at varying temperatures to assess virus inactivation, emphasizing the importance of cooking meat to safe internal temperatures to eliminate bacteria and viruses.
Colombia has imposed restrictions on the import of beef and beef products from U.S. states affected by dairy cow avian influenza as of April 15, according to USDA reports. Notably, there have been no reported cases of bird flu in beef cattle to date.
The singular human case in the current outbreak was identified in a Texas farm worker who developed conjunctivitis following exposure to infected dairy cows.
