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USDA Will Increase Beef Testing for Avian Influenza

Aug. 16, 2024
Testing will increase in September focusing on beef from former dairy cows.

USDA this week said it will expand its testing of beef entering the food supply as a response to the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza among dairy cattle.

Agriculture Dept. officials said the additional testing will begin in September and continue for the rest of this year. While they said beef and dairy products remain safe to consume, they’re remaining vigilant and acknowledge the spread of bird flu among dairy cattle.

Older dairy cattle are often slaughtered for ground beef. The agency’s testing program will focus on beef from those dairy cows.

Emilio Esteban, undersecretary for food safety, told reporters on a conference call Aug. 13 the new testing program follows three studies undertaken during the spring and summer that all found beef in the nation’s food supply is safe to eat, according to a report in Government Executive.

“However, we want to move forward with an additional step. And what this means is that when those carcasses are tested, they are held and are not going to go into commerce until we get the results back.”

Nearly 200 dairy cow herds in 13 U.S. states have contracted bird flu since March after the virus jumped from wild birds to cows, according to USDA data. The agency in May tested 109 beef samples from dairy cows sent to slaughter and found bird flu virus particles in one cow's tissue sample.

About the Author

Dave Fusaro | Editor in Chief

Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.

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