Bird Flu Traces Found in 20% of Retail Milk Samples
The Facts
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Thursday that about one in five retail milk samples contain traces of highly contagious bird flu.
However, the FDA said that the virus fragments detected may not be infectious and that pasteurized milk products remain safe to consume.
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite detecting the bird flu virus in a significant portion of samples, the US milk supply remains safe, as the detected virus is inactive. This is largely due to the effectiveness of pasteurization, a process that the FDA's research underscores as crucial in preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Narrative B
While the perceived risk of H5N1 in retail milk may be low, it's important to note that the outbreak is novel, and testing is still in the early stages. Therefore, it's premature to conclude with absolute certainty that milk on retail shelves is free from the infectious virus. Continued vigilance and caution is needed.
