Guest Columns

Perspective:
Dairy Trends

Monitoring and messaging on the avian influenza issue

John Umhoefer

John Umhoefer is executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association. He contributes this column monthly for Cheese Market News®.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or “bird flu” affecting dairy herds is a volatile and evolving issue. At this time, dairy processors should:

1. Understand the current state of research, requirements and recommendations from federal agencies;
2. Monitor key information outlets for updates; and
3. Be ready to communicate with your supply chain.

• Current research, requirements

Federal efforts to address the discovery of HPAI in dairy herds (in nine states as this is written) is a well-coordinated effort between the FDA, USDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) working alongside state agencies and universities across the nation.

FDA continues to provide updates and most recently noted that initial tests of commercial milk samples show that pasteurization is effective in inactivating HPAI.

FDA has gathered 297 samples of dairy products from 38 states, and any samples that show positive for viral fragments are going through egg inoculation tests, a gold standard for determining if infectious virus is present, the agency states. “We are committed to sharing additional testing results as soon as possible,” FDA states on a dedicated website. “Subsequent results will help us to further review our assessment that pasteurization is effective against this virus and the commercial milk supply is safe.”

The University of Wisconsin is among universities around the nation assisting federal regulators with this issue. At the Madison campus, Dr. Yoshi Kawaoka, an expert on avian flu, is working in concert with the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab, Center for Dairy Research and Food Research Institute to study the virus in milk samples. Dr. Kawaoka has performed laboratory-scale studies to show the effectiveness of pasteurization on samples of infected milk and is working with partners on campus to scale up testing to a pilot-scale pasteurization system.

USDA is leading farm-side efforts, and effective April 29, the agency requires influenza testing of lactating dairy cattle moving interstate and reporting of any positive test results from all laboratories and state animal health officials.

• Monitor key information

Monitoring an issue with national scope and multiple active parties can be a challenge. Consider making a favorite of just these four websites to watch for new messages or regulatory action.

Wisconsin Cheese Makers

Association (WCMA) and International Dairy Foods Association are offering excellent information summaries and links on their member websites at www.wischeesemakersassn.org/hpai-response and www.idfa.org/resources/hpai-in-dairy-cattle. FDA and USDA are funneling information through one website each. An online search for “FDA HPAI” will yield FDA’s main page for messaging and updates. An online search for “USDA HPAI” will yield USDA’s main page for messaging and updates.

• Communicate with your supply chain

Suppliers, buyers and consumers are seeking a clear understanding of this evolving issue. WCMA believes that direct information from FDA, the agency charged with national food safety, remains the best third-party voice to offer to your supply chain.

This statement is taken directly from the FDA website:

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with state partners, continue to investigate an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus impacting dairy cows in multiple states.

“At this time, there continues to be no concern that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health or that it affects the safety of the interstate commercial milk supply because products are pasteurized before entering the market.

“Only milk from heathy animals is authorized for distribution into interstate commerce for human consumption. Additionally, pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce. Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Milk from ill (symptomatic) animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply, and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products. The FDA will continue to work with our partners and provide updates as necessary.”

WCMA will continue to offer special alerts, newsletter reports and constant updates to our website noted above as this issue evolves.

CMN

The views expressed by CMN’s guest columnists are their own opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Cheese Market News®.

© 2024 Cheese Market News • Quarne Publishing, LLC • Legal Information • Online Privacy Policy • Terms and Conditions
Cheese Market News • Business/Advertising Office: P.O. Box 628254 • Middleton, WI 53562 • 608/831-6002
Cheese Market News • Editorial Office: 5315 Wall Street, Suite 100 • Madison, WI 53718 • 608/288-9090