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A California producer of unpasteurized raw milk, the preferred milk of Department of Health and Human Services secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has been forced by the state to suspend operations after officials found the bird flu virus in its products.
All operations at Raw Farm ― a Fresno-based producer of raw milk, cheeses, pet foods and other dairy products ― are “currently under quarantine, from herds to bottled product, which means that all raw milk product distribution is suspended,” Steve Lyle, director of public affairs for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, said in a statement Monday.
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The bird flu virus, or H5N1, was found in samples collected late last month, Lyle said.
Raw Farm’s products on display for sale at a grocery store in Torrance, California. PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images
“CDFA dairy inspectors sampled milk from bottled products and bulk milk storage at Raw Farm’s bottling facility on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and laboratory test results made known on November 28 showed the presence of the bird flu virus,” he continued. “All milk tested by CDFA remained at the Raw Farm plant and was not released to consumers.”
State, county and federal officials are all continuing to investigate Raw Farm’s operations, Lyle said.
The suspension comes not long after Raw Farm voluntarily recalled two of its raw milk batches after the Santa Clara County Public Health Department detected bird flu in them.
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Despite these ongoing issues, Raw Farm told CNN on Monday that Kennedy, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead HHS, has asked the company’s CEO, Mark McAfee, to apply for the position of “FDA advisor on Raw Milk Policy and Standards Development.”
“I only drink raw milk,
Raw Milk Farm Suspended After Officials Find Bird Flu In Products
