The USDA is taking steps to ensure the safety of the beef supply after an outbreak of avian flu in dairy cows. While the agency believes the meat is safe, it is conducting tests on ground beef sold at retail in states where the H5N1 virus has been detected.
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, also known as bird or avian flu, can be transmitted by wild birds to domestic poultry and other animals. To ensure beef safety, the USDA is using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to check ground beef samples for the presence of the virus. This is just one of three studies the agency is conducting in light of recent outbreaks in dairy cows.
In addition to testing ground beef, the USDA is also inspecting muscles from dairy cows that were culled for disease at federal slaughter facilities. Food Safety and Inspection Service veterinarians are present at all federal livestock slaughter facilities to inspect animals before and after slaughter to ensure 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 last week’s findings by FDA that while some commercial milk samples tested positive for bird flu fragments, milk remains safe due to pasteurization and proper handling from sick cows.