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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCalifornia agencies reported H5N1 bird flu detections in specific raw-milk products in late 2024 and issued product-specific warnings and recalls. The first retail notice, on November 24, named a particular Raw Farm lot; later notices involved additional Raw Farm products and a separate Valley Milk Simply Bottled and DESI Milk recall. These are historical notices, not evidence that those lots are currently on sale or that all milk was affected.
Is bird flu in raw milk?
California health and agriculture agencies reported H5N1 detections in samples of unpasteurized milk products in late 2024. The notices concerned specified products and dates, not every raw-milk product and not pasteurized milk. The agency statements distinguish the two: pasteurization kills H5N1 and other harmful germs in raw milk. CDPH and CDFA provide details of their notices and guidance.
FDA’s June 6, 2024 update said it did not know at that time whether people could get H5N1 by consuming raw milk or products made from raw milk from infected cows. FDA also describes raw milk as high-risk because it can carry pathogens that cause illness and has been linked to foodborne outbreaks. Its initial retail dairy survey found no viable H5N1 in 297 samples; that result applies to that survey, not to all raw milk or every product in California. FDA’s update explains the dated findings.
Which California raw milk was recalled?
The late-2024 notices named different companies, products, and date codes. The November Raw Farm lot, later Raw Farm notices, and December Valley Milk/DESI recall are separate events.
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| Notice date | Product and company | Identifying code or scope | What the agency said |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 24, 2024 | Raw Farm, LLC raw milk | Lot code 20241119; best by December 7, 2024 | CDPH reported a positive retail sample and a voluntary recall of this specific lot. CDPH notice |
| December 12, 2024 | Raw Farm raw whole milk and cream; CDPH also advised avoiding Raw Farm products for human consumption, including raw milk, cream, cheese, and kefir, and named raw-milk pet products | A broader, later voluntary recall; consult the notice for its product and recall details | CDPH described further detections in Raw Farm products and urged consumers not to consume the named products. This was distinct from the November lot notice. CDPH notice |
| December 14, 2024 | “Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Cow Milk” and “DESI Milk Raw Cow Milk,” in quart, half-gallon, and gallon jugs | Code dates DEC 23 2024 through DEC 30 2024 | CDFA announced a statewide recall and quarantine order after H5N1 was detected in a bulk-tank sample at Valley Milk Simply Bottled in Stanislaus County. Its notice said no illnesses had been reported at that time and advised consumers not to consume remaining product. CDFA notice |
All dates and codes above belong to notices from 2024. Check current CDPH and CDFA recall notices for present-day status; the historical notices alone do not establish whether a product is still being sold or whether a recall remains active.
Is pasteurized milk safe to drink?
CDPH and CDFA say pasteurization kills H5N1 and other harmful germs in raw milk, and CDFA says pasteurized milk and dairy products remain safe. The California recalls described above involved unpasteurized products; they did not identify pasteurized commercial milk as affected. CDFA’s H5N1 guidance and the CDPH notice state this distinction.
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Why raw milk can still carry risk under California rules
California regulates licensed raw-milk producers, but regulation does not add the pasteurization step. CDFA lists requirements that include dairy permits, sanitary bottling facilities, specified bacterial limits, and monthly pathogen testing by its Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch. The agency says that without pasteurization, hygiene and cleanliness are the main barrier to harmful bacteria. It also notes that organic labeling does not mean milk is pasteurized. CDFA’s Milk and Dairy Food Safety Branch describes these requirements.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What if you or your pet drank recalled raw milk?
The notices give product-specific consumer directions but do not set out a complete clinical protocol for people or pets who consumed a recalled product. If you consumed a product named in a notice and are concerned or develop symptoms, contact a healthcare provider or your local public-health department. For a pet that consumed recalled raw-milk product, contact a veterinarian. Keep the package or a photo of its label and code available so you can identify the product and lot.
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