Vermont Dairy Industry Declared Free of Bird Flu
MONTPELIER, VT – Vermont’s milk supply has been officially declared “unaffected” by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu. This status follows extensive testing mandated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after bird flu outbreaks were reported in other regions of the country. Vermont is the first state in New England to achieve this recognition.
Vermont’s Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets began its testing program in January, initially focusing on large milk collection sites. However, the state expanded its efforts to include testing at individual dairy farms, covering 411 locations across Vermont. This proactive approach is credited to the strong cooperation from local dairy farmers, who incurred no costs for the testing, as the federal government covered all expenses.
"This is an important moment for Vermont and our dairy industry,” remarked Anson Tebbetts, Vermont’s Secretary of Agriculture. “You can depend on Vermont milk to be nutritious and safe.” Despite ongoing bird flu concerns, particularly regarding its potential spread from wild birds to domestic livestock, pasteurization processes ensure that the commercial milk supply remains safe for consumers.
In an additional effort to enhance food safety, the state has launched a first-in-the-nation weekly sampling program for raw milk cheese makers, who also reported no presence of the bird flu virus in their products.
E.B. Flory, Director of Food Safety at VAAFM, expressed gratitude towards the Vermont dairy community, stating, “Our dairy cattle are healthy and producing the highest quality milk for market.” The agency intends to continue its testing protocols amid isolated bird flu cases, reinforcing its commitment to maintaining a safe dairy industry in Vermont.
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