Its affected your eggs.
Heres what it means for your cheese drawer.
If a cow becomes sick with avian flu, its milk supply can be contaminated with the virus.
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What does the science say?
Their research, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, aims to answer that question.
The study also tested commercial raw-milk cheese that was confirmed to have been contaminated with the virus.
Which means the current aging protocols for other pathogens seem to not apply to this strain of bird flu.
How are cows getting avian flu in the first place?
Peter Rabinowitz, professor ofenvironmental and occupational health sciencesand director of the University of WashingtonsCenter for One Health Research.
Dairy farmers are concerned, but fortunately there is not a major impact on production.
At this point, its not entirely clear how the virus is spreading among dairy cows.
He also mentions that the virus could potentially be spread through contaminated milking equipment or other surfaces.
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Ok, so what cheeses are at risk?
Raw milk and raw milk dairy products (like soft cheese, yogurt, etc.)
Luckily, the process of pasteurization kills these harmful germs and makes these dairy products safe to consume.
These cheeses dont carry the same risk that soft cheeses do.
As cheese ages, sugars in the milk (lactose) are converted into lactic acid.
What does this mean for consumers (and cheese-lovers)?
This study has not yet been peer reviewed, so I would reference it with caution, says Hovis.
Interestingly, there was no virus detected in the cheese with the lowest pH.
(Note that this process doesnt eliminate bacteria in the same way that pasteurization does.)
The FDA is currentlytesting samples of 60-day raw-milk aged cheeses for avian influenza.
In the meantime, there are plenty of options when it comes to buying pasteurized cheeses.
When in doubt, be sure tocheck the label for pasteurized milk.
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