As the H5N1 avian flu virus continues to spread in poultry flocks and dairy cattle^[1], consumers may worry about whether the U.S. milk supply is safe to drink. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the answer is yes, as long as the milk is pasteurized^[2].

In late November 2024, however, California regulators recalled two batches of raw, unpasteurized milk^[3] from a Fresno dairy farm after bird flu virus was...