Despite Emergency Declaration, CDFA Denies the Public Critical Information
SACRAMENTO, CA – California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. (CRLA) and First Amendment Coalition (FAC) filed suit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) today over CDFA’s refusal to disclose critical information related to the spread of H5N1, an avian influenza virus, in California dairies.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in December 2024 in response to H5N1, stating his intention that all “Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information” about the disease.
CDFA, nonetheless, has failed to provide the public with critical information related to the spread of H5N1—including any details about the hundreds of dairies it has placed under quarantine. In so doing, CDFA has repeatedly violated the California Public Records Act and prevented CRLA and the broader public from utilizing public records to protect public health.
“The dangers H5N1 poses to dairy workers and the wider public can be significantly reduced through research, sanitation protocols, and other protective behaviors, many of which are required by state regulations,” noted CRLA attorney David Cremins. “To ensure those protective behaviors are in place, we must know which dairies are impacted by H5N1 outbreaks. CDFA is the only state agency empowered to gather such information, but they are keeping the public in the dark about this evolving threat.”
“The people have a compelling interest in knowing where bird flu is active,” FAC legal director David Loy said. “Only with full transparency can the people have full confidence that their government is doing all it can to protect public health.”
See the petition at: https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/case/california-rural-legal-assistance-v-california-department-of-food-and-agriculture/