The USDA is taking proactive measures to safeguard the beef supply by testing ground beef after an outbreak of avian flu in dairy cows. While the agency believes the meat supply is safe, it is sampling beef in states where the H5N1 virus has been detected, including Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico and Texas.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as bird or avian flu, can be transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry and other animals. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, the USDA is checking the ground beef samples for the presence of the virus. This is just one of three studies that agency is conducting to ensure beef safety following recent outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cows.
In addition to testing ground beef, the USDA is also inspecting muscles from culled dairy cows at slaughter facilities it oversees. Food Safety and Inspection Service veterinarians are present at all federal livestock slaughter facilities to inspect animals before and after slaughter to ensure their safety.
To further reassure consumers, the USDA will conduct a beef cooking study to evaluate how different cooking temperatures affect virus reduction. Consumers are advised to properly handle raw meats and cook them to a safe internal temperature to kill any bacteria or viruses present.
The results of these studies will be made available to the public once they become available. These precautionary measures follow FDA’s findings last week that milk supply remains safe despite some commercial milk samples testing positive for bird flu fragments. Both agencies attribute pasteurization and proper handling of milk from sick cows for keeping U.S milk supply safe.
