USDA Mandates Nationwide Milk Testing to Combat Rising H5N1 Cases

A Strategic Approach to Containment

The testing initiative, set to focus on raw milk at processing facilities rather than individual farms, aims to streamline detection efforts. Vermont, for example, plans to conduct testing at approximately 50 processing plants where milk is transported before pasteurization and retail preparation.

E.B. Flory, Director of Food Safety at the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, explained the rationale:
“Testing at processing plants reduces the scope compared to testing every farm. If a positive is identified, tracing can pinpoint the farms contributing to the affected silo,” she said.

The majority of cases have been concentrated in California and mountain states, with no detections reported in Northeastern herds.

Program Rollout and Federal Oversight

USDA’s federal order, issued last week, requires states to initiate testing protocols immediately and share results with the agency. This expands on the random testing USDA implemented following the virus’s detection in dairy cattle in March 2024.

In a press release, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack underscored the significance of the initiative:
“This milk testing strategy provides a framework for states to safeguard dairy herd health, enhance farmer confidence, and swiftly control virus spread. It is a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and resilience of our dairy industry.”

States are working to finalize agreements and processes to handle sampling and response protocols for positive detections. Flory expressed optimism that the program would be operational by the end of the month.

Raw Milk Sales: A Separate Issue

While USDA testing focuses on raw milk in transit for pasteurization, states like Vermont are not implementing additional testing or warnings for raw milk sold directly to consumers. Vermont has permitted on-farm raw milk sales since 2009, aligning with practices in 30 other states.

Flory noted that pasteurization remains an effective method for eliminating disease risks in the milk supply. Meanwhile, raw milk sales continue under state-specific regulations, with New Jersey remaining the sole state prohibiting raw milk sales altogether.

Industry Implications

As USDA ramps up its response to H5N1, the dairy industry faces new challenges and responsibilities. The nationwide testing mandate represents a concerted effort to protect animal health, maintain consumer confidence, and secure the integrity of the U.S. milk supply amid escalating cases of avian influenza.