The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking measures to ensure the safety of the beef supply after an outbreak of avian flu in dairy cows. While the agency believes that the meat supply is safe, it is testing ground beef sold at retail in nine states where the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) virus has been detected, including Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, and Texas.
The USDA is using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to check ground beef samples for the presence of the virus. This is one of three studies that the agency is conducting to ensure beef safety in light of the recent H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows. In addition to testing ground beef, the USDA is also testing muscles from dairy cows that were culled for disease at slaughter facilities it inspects.
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) veterinarians are present at all federal livestock slaughter facilities to inspect animals before and after slaughter to ensure their safety. To further ensure consumer safety, the USDA will conduct a beef cooking study to evaluate how different cooking temperatures affect virus reduction. Consumers are reminded 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 shared with the public once available. These precautionary measures follow the FDA’s findings last week that some commercial milk samples tested positive for bird flu fragments but that pasteurization and proper handling kept U.S milk supply safe