FDA begins testing raw cheese for bird flu

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: msn /The Independent

5h


The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started to test cheese for cases of bird flu.

Federal health officials have started to gather samples of aged raw cow’s milk cheese to test for the infectious disease, the FDA said Monday. The collection of the samples started toward the end of this month and is set to be finished by the end of March. The agency noted that it may extend the collection period if needed.

This comes after the Department of Agriculture issued a federal order earlier in December stating that samples of raw milk would be collected and shared with the FDA to be tested for the disease, according to ABC News. The FDA has said that it’s set to gather 300 samples of raw cow’s milk cheese which has been aged for at least two months.

The samples will then be examined using a PCR test that searches for genetic material from the virus. The tests are set to be completed within a week of collection, the FDA has said. Samples that are found to have the virus will then be subjected to viability testing, which is conducted by injecting part of the virus into an embryonated egg and looking at whether it grows or multiplies, ABC noted.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/fda-begins-testing-raw-cheese-for-bird-flu/ar-AA1wMJOt

[Hugin]

1. Is most cheese made from pasteurized milk?

I know… I know… This is the Internet. Look it up.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. I expect it is and is normally printed somewhere on the label.

I think most of the "raw milk" products are probably sold at the producer farm, roadside farm stands, farmers' markets, and specialty stores that sell "health foods" or focus on "natural/organic" products, etc. (which may include some larger supermarket chains that carry specialty products).

The issue that brings the feds in is if those products cross state lines (sold to stores outside of the state where the product originated and more recently, through internet sales).

[Hugin]

3. I just happen to have a block handy.

I’ll check.

[Hugin]

4. In the ingredients list the samples I have say...

“Cultured pasteurized milk” Which on deeper reflection makes sense for a consistent cheese product. Doing so makes Cheddar, Cheddar all the way through.

I can’t imagine what kind of fricking zombie cheese using raw milk would lead to… But, then, I don’t play Russian Roulette either.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. 21CFR (Code of Federal Regulations)

that covers products that FDA regulates, lists all the requirements, including definitions, label requirements, etc. in Part 133

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-133