More dairy products safe to consume, bird flu testing shows

• That was an indication that the virus may be spreading more widely among dairy cattle than previously known.

What they found: Preliminary results showed no viable bird flu virus in 297 retail samples of dairy products, said Donald Prater, acting director of the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, on a call with reporters.

• No fragments of the virus were detected in powdered infant formula or powdered milk products marketed as toddler formula, the FDA said.
• The agency will continue testing dairy products, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Tuesday it is testing ground beef.

Where it stands: The virus has been detected in 36 cattle herds across nine states since March.

• So far, most cows with the virus have recovered after treatment, said Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer at USDA.
• The Biden administration now requires that dairy cows receive negative flu tests before they can be transported over state lines.
• There is no evidence that the virus is present in beef herds or the beef supply at this point, USDA officials said.