Last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that fragments of inactive bird flu virus were found in some pasteurized milk sold in grocery stores. Less than 5 days later, 37% of adults surveyed in CO, MD, MO and NE had heard the news.
In the sample of 506 adults, 64% reported that they or children in their household consume milk “daily or almost every day” or “monthly.”
How concerned are Americans about bird flu in milk?
Among those in households that consume milk at least monthly, 34% were “very concerned” about bird flu in milk, 42% were “a little concerned,” and 24% were “not concerned.” Black respondents in milk-drinking households were more likely than White respondents to be “very concerned” (52% vs 27%).
Are Americans confident that pasteurized milk is safe?
We asked milk drinkers how confident they were that pasteurized milk in the U.S. is safe. Most respondents were “very confident” (30%) or “somewhat confident” (56%) that pasteurized milk in the U.S. is safe. Adults age 60 years and older were more likely to be “very confident” than those under age 60 (48% vs 26%). Similarly, White respondents were more likely to be “very confident” in milk safety than Black respondents (34% vs 20%).
What factors influence confidence in milk safety?
We also asked respondents to share what made them confident or not confident in the safety of pasteurized milk. Three major factors emerged. First was trust in established processes and regulations. Many respondents trusted food safety regulations to protect them. One stated that they were confident because “pasteurization has been around for so long.” Second was knowledge of safety measures. Respondents who knew how pasteurization works had more confidence in the process. The third factor, which reduced confidence, was distrust in institutions and authorities. One respondent stated, “While I recognize the importance of pasteurization, I don’t trust the institutions to be honest about anything.”
How can you help?
Community organizations can use the resources below to inform St. Louis residents about safety measures that protect the milk supply and other foods.
This week’s report is based on responses from a panel of adult residents of Baltimore, MD (n=168), St. Louis, MO (n=153), Omaha, NE (n=89), and Colorado (n=101) surveyed from Saturday, April 27 to Monday, April 29, 2024. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
UPDATE: On May 1st, FDA announced new test results that confirmed that live (active) bird flu virus does not remain in pasteurized milk, further confirming the safety of the milk supply.
Download the graphics below to share about this topic.
Suggested Caption:
Is the U.S. milk supply safe? Yes. On May 1st, FDA announced new test results that confirmed that live (active) bird flu virus does not remain in pasteurized milk, further confirming the safety of the milk supply. Raw milk is not safe because it is not pasteurized.
#iHeardSTL #BirdFlu #Dairy
Suggested Caption:
The bottom line: Choose pasteurized dairy products.
To read more about the spread of bird flu in mammals and what pasteurization is, check out iHeard’s previous posts on the topic or visit FDA, USDA and CDC websites.
#iHeardSTL #RawMilk #BirdFlu #Dairy
Is raw milk safe? Printable flyer
