FDA Testing Reveals Bird Flu Virus in 1 in 5 Milk Samples

FDA Testing Reveals , Bird Flu Virus , in 1 in 5 Milk Samples.

'Time' reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that traces of bird flu have been found in nearly one-fifth of commercial milk samples tested.

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In a statement released on the agency's website, the FDA said that traces of the virus do not necessarily indicate a risk to consumers.

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According to the FDA, more tests are needed to confirm if intact pathogens that remain infectious are present in the samples.

Those tests would determine , "whether there is any risk of illness associated with consuming the product.".

'Time' reports that the results of the study come as a stark warning of how quickly the virus is spreading among dairy cows in the U.S. The virus has already killed millions of birds globally, raising both health and food security concerns, as well as spooking global markets.

The virus has already killed millions of birds globally, raising both health and food security concerns, as well as spooking global markets.

So far, the Department of Agriculture has already confirmed 33 infected herds across eight states, including Texas, Michigan and Ohio.

So far, the Department of Agriculture has already confirmed 33 infected herds across eight states, including Texas, Michigan and Ohio.

In an effort to understand the extent of the outbreak and potentially contain it, the USDA has implemented mandatory testing of cows moving across state borders.

Authorities have stressed that the current risk to humans remains low, with only one identified human case in the U.S. this year.

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To date, the retail milk studies have shown no results that would change our assessment that the commercial milk supply is safe.

, FDA statement, via 'Time'