USDA to Test Ground Beef in States with Outbreaks of Bird Flu in Dairy Cows

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday it is collecting samples of ground beef at retail stores in states with outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cows for testing but remains confident the meat supply is safe.

The USDA will analyze the ground beef with tests that determine "whether any viral particles are present," according to a statement. Some dairy cows are processed into ground beef when they grow old.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday it is collecting samples of ground beef at retail stores in states with outbreaks of bird flu in dairy cows for testing but remains confident the meat supply is safe.

The USDA will analyze the ground beef with tests that determine "whether any viral particles are present," according to a statement. Some dairy cows are processed into ground beef when they grow old.

The department is also collecting beef muscle samples at slaughter facilities of dairy cattle that have been condemned to determine the presence of viral particles.

The USDA last week said it had found bird flu in a lung tissue sample from an asymptomatic dairy cow that was sent to slaughter from an infected herd. The animal did not enter the food supply, according to the USDA.

Colombia restricted the import of beef and beef products coming from U.S. states where dairy cows have tested positive for avian influenza as of April 15, according to the USDA.

There are no known cases of bird flu in beef cattle so far.

Source: Drovers