Safeguards urged to protect against bird flu in Minnesota milk supply

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Some Minnesota lawmakers are calling for added safeguards to address bird flu in response to milk from a Stearns County dairy herd testing positive for H5NI.

Representative Rick Hansen of South St. Paul says it should include continued testing of retail milk, voluntary testing for poultry and dairy workers, and monitoring of the wastewater supply for the virus. Hansen says Minnesotans deserve additional proactive steps to protect workers and assure trust in the food supply.

Hansen co-chairs the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee.