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Bird Flu and Cats: What You Need to Know
Most Americans don’t know the dangers of raw milk and bird flu
03-16-2025
Earth.com staff writer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) detected H5N1 bird flu in raw milk samples from several states in the U.S. Many Americans remain unaware of the health risks associated with consuming raw milk, especially for children.
Raw milk can carry harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Listeria, and Brucella.
More than half of U.S. adults, about 56 percent, understand that raw milk is less safe than pasteurized milk. However, a significant portion of the population remains uncertain.
Around twenty-five percent are unsure about the safety difference, while 12 percent believe raw milk is just as safe as pasteurized milk. Six percent think raw milk is actually safer, according to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC).
Children face greater health risks
A concerning survey finding reveals that two-thirds of respondents, about 66 percent, do not know that children face higher risks from consuming raw milk. This lack of awareness can lead to serious health consequences.
“Consuming raw milk and raw milk products can make you sick and pasteurization reduces the risk of milk-borne illness,” said Patrick E. Jamieson, director of APPC’s Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute.
“Looking for the pasteurization label before buying or consuming milk or milk products such as cheese is good practice.”
Bird flu cases linked to raw milk and poultry
As of March 10, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 70 cases of H5 bird flu in 13 states.
Most infections were linked to exposure to infected poultry or dairy herds. One person in Louisiana has died from the virus. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission at this time.
Since January 2022, bird flu has affected nearly a thousand dairy herds in 17 states and infected over 166 million poultry and wild birds.
Global data from the World Health Organization (WHO) reports 954 cases of human avian flu infections between 2003 and December 2024, with 464 fatalities.
Risks of bird flu in raw milk
The majority of U.S. adults are unaware that bird flu has only been detected in raw milk. Only 17 percent correctly recognize this fact, while 68 percent remain uncertain. Some incorrectly believe bird flu has been found in pasteurized milk or both types of milk.
Scientists have found that mice can contract bird flu by drinking raw milk, raising concerns about potential human transmission.
Although the FDA has not confirmed whether H5N1 can spread to humans through raw milk, studies suggest a possible risk. The National Institutes of Health states that untreated milk containing the virus could infect those who consume it.
Public perception of raw milk safety
The APPC survey found that 22 percent of Americans believe drinking raw milk increases the risk of contracting bird flu. Another 22 percent think it has no effect, while 53 percent remain unsure.
The FDA stresses that pasteurization eliminates harmful bacteria and viruses, including H5N1 if present. Yet, misinformation continues to influence public opinion on raw milk safety.
Misunderstood health benefits
Despite scientific evidence, raw milk advocates continue to make claims about its supposed health benefits. The APPC survey examined several of these beliefs and found that many Americans remain uncertain about their accuracy.
Twenty-six percent believe raw milk is as effective as pasteurized milk in preventing osteoporosis. Ten percent incorrectly believe raw milk is more effective, while 59 percent are unsure.
Forty percent recognize that raw milk does not cure lactose intolerance. Ten percent incorrectly believe it does, while 50 percent remain uncertain.
Thirty-nine percent correctly identify that raw milk does not reduce asthma symptoms, while 54 percent remain unsure. Seven percent believe it does.
Thirty percent believe raw milk does not enhance the immune system, but 23 percent think it does. Nearly half of respondents, about 47 percent, are unsure.
The FDA refutes these claims, stating that raw milk does not provide superior health benefits and poses serious risks, especially for children.
Government regulations and public opinion
Since 1987, the FDA has banned the interstate sale of raw milk. However, 30 states permit some form of legal sale. Public opinion on regulation remains divided.
Nearly 24 percent of survey respondents support allowing raw milk sales across state lines, while 28 percent oppose it. A significant portion remains uncertain.
In-state raw milk sales also generate divided opinions. About 24 percent favor unrestricted sales, while 25 percent support limiting sales to farm owners selling from their own land. Fourteen percent believe raw milk sales should be completely banned in their states.
Federal regulations on raw milk spark debate. About 32 percent believe these rules represent unnecessary government intrusion. Another 34 percent disagree, while 33 percent neither agree nor disagree.
A quarter of respondents believe state laws prohibiting raw milk sales violate the constitutional rights of sellers. A slightly larger group, about 34 percent, disagrees. Over 40 percent remain uncertain.
Testing and warning labels
More than half of Americans, about 56 percent, do not believe that state laws requiring warning labels on raw milk containers violate sellers’ constitutional rights. Fourteen percent think they do, while 30 percent are unsure.
Many Americans remain unaware of the extent of bird flu testing in raw milk. When asked how many states participate in USDA testing, 74 percent of survey respondents said they were unsure.
As of January 8, 2025, the USDA reports that its National Milk Testing Strategy includes 28 states. These states account for nearly 65 percent of the nation’s milk production.
Bird Flu and Cats: What You Need to Know
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Man charged for selling iguanas during closed Hunting Season
Loop News
6 hrs ago
ALas Lomas man was arrested and charged for the illegal possession of wildlife during the closed hunting season.
The 39-year-old man was arrested by Predial Larceny Unit officers was arrested on March 11 during an operation in the Central District
The Unit said it received information about a man selling iguanas.
Upon investigating the tip, police arrested the man.
He is expected to face six charges for being in possession of iguanas during the closed hunting season.
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The Praedial Larceny Squad has asked members of the public to report any illegal hunting or wildlife trafficking activities
Three million years ago, our ancestors were vegetarian, study finds
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New isotope analysis of Australopithecus tooth enamel uncovers a plant-based diet, challenging long-held views on meat’s role in human evolution. (CREDIT: CC BY-SA 4.0)© The Brighter Side of News
The evolution of human diets remains a captivating mystery, often tied to the consumption of animal resources. High-quality animal products such as meat, bone marrow, and eggs provide nutrients essential for brain development and overall health. However, the role of animal foods in shaping human evolution is complex and far from resolved.
Early ancestors like Australopithecus, who lived roughly 3.5 million years ago in southern Africa, mostly relied on plant-based diets.
Recent research, published in Science, analyzed nitrogen isotope ratios in the fossilized tooth enamel of seven Australopithecus individuals. These results show little to no evidence of regular meat consumption, challenging long-standing hypotheses about early hominin diets.
The Role of Diet in Evolution
Animal products are nutritionally dense and easier to digest than raw plant foods. They contain essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals crucial for brain and body development.
One of the teeth from seven Australopithecus individuals that got drilled so a small amount of tooth enamel could be analyzed for evidence of meat consumption. (CREDIT: Tina Lüdecke)© The Brighter Side of News
The shift to consuming animal resources has been linked to the growth of brain size, increased stature, and reduced gut size in early humans. However, evidence suggests that Australopithecus did not partake in habitual meat consumption.
Australopithecus individuals lived in diverse environments, practiced bipedal locomotion, and possessed humanlike hand proportions.Related video: How Primitive Man Turns Acorns into Good Food (Chad Zuber)
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Fossil evidence, including 3.4-million-year-old cut marks on bones, hints at occasional use of tools for foraging. Yet, their diets remained predominantly plant-based, with minimal reliance on animal products. This contrasts with later hominins like Homo erectus and Neanderthals, who regularly consumed meat.
To uncover dietary habits, researchers used advanced techniques to measure nitrogen isotope ratios in fossilized tooth enamel from Australopithecus individuals. Tooth enamel, the hardest tissue in mammals, preserves dietary signatures for millions of years.
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Nitrogen isotopes reveal an organism’s trophic level within a food web. Herbivores have higher nitrogen isotope ratios than plants, while carnivores have even higher ratios than herbivores.
Lead researcher Tina Lüdecke and her team analyzed enamel from specimens found in South Africa’s Sterkfontein Caves. The results showed consistently low nitrogen isotope ratios, similar to herbivores. These findings indicate that Australopithecus predominantly consumed plants.
“Tooth enamel is remarkable in its ability to preserve isotopic fingerprints for millions of years,” explains Lüdecke, who leads the “Hominin Meat Consumption” research group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. By comparing isotopic data with that of contemporary animals, the team confirmed the plant-based nature of the Australopithecus diet.
Minimal Meat Consumption
While evidence suggests occasional consumption of animal protein from eggs or insects, Australopithecus likely did not hunt large mammals. This contrasts with later hominins like Neanderthals, whose diets included significant proportions of meat.
One of the teeth from seven Australopithecus individuals that got drilled so a small amount of tooth enamel could be analyzed for evidence of meat consumption. (CREDIT: Tina Lüdecke)© The Brighter Side of News
Advancements in isotopic analysis allowed researchers to extend dietary studies to fossils millions of years old. Alfredo Martínez-García’s lab at the Max Planck Institute developed the novel techniques used in this study.
“This method offers exciting opportunities to explore when meat consumption began and its role in evolutionary milestones such as brain growth,” says Martínez-García.
The Sterkfontein Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have been a focal point for hominin studies since Robert Broom’s discoveries in 1936. Professor Dominic Stratford, Director of Research at Sterkfontein, emphasizes the importance of this new work. “This study represents a major step in understanding the diets and evolutionary trajectory of early hominins,” he states.
Future research aims to analyze fossilized tooth enamel from other sites across Africa and Southeast Asia. By comparing data across species and time periods, scientists hope to identify the evolutionary transition to meat consumption and its impact on human development.
Tina Lüdecke searching for suitable sampled teeth in the hominin vault of the Evolutionary Studies Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. (CREDIT: Rani Bakkour, TU Munich)© The Brighter Side of News
“Our findings challenge previous assumptions and open new avenues for understanding human evolution,” Lüdecke concludes. The groundbreaking use of isotopic analysis provides fresh perspectives on early hominin diets and evolutionary history.
Note: Materials provided above by The Brighter Side of News. Content may be edited for style and length.
Exposing the Big Game 