ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) - If you drink milk, you may have recently wondered if the pasteurized milk you buy from the grocery store is safer than its unpasteurized (raw) alternative. Research continues to show the effectiveness of the pasteurization process lowering the risk of harmful viruses and diseases being present in it at the time of consumption. While it has been around for nearly a century, Food Science Professor at Cornell University and Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs at the International Dairy Foods Association Samuel Alcaine said the process continues to be studied and improved. "This is the 100th anniversary of the pasteurized milk ordinance," Alcaine said. "They are the regulations that really established the safety of our milk today, and the right timing and temperature necessary to achieve that safety". This research has also shown the risk to be higher for viruses like bird flu to be alive and present in raw milk, which can be contracted by humans. CBS has recently reported an uptick in raw milk consumption, coinciding with national politicians and online influencers weighing in on the debate of which milk is safer. Director of Translational Immunology and Infectious Diseases Institute at URMC David Topham said that consuming raw milk can speed up the rate at which the virus adapts. "The concern is that every time these viruses, like bird flu, cross a species barrier, they are adapting," Topham said. "With this virus is adapting to different species and has crossed over into pigs, cows, birds and a couple of people, many people in the influenza community worry about it". The most recent research shows that as long as the pasteurization process continues to be common practice, the risk for a local bird flu outbreak is considerably low. "I think we're pretty safe here, but I wouldn't relax either. We've got to keep an eye on this," Topham said. The work that food science experts like Alcaine do at Cornell University also ensures that the milk being sold in grocery stores is safe for human consumption. "Pasteurization is effective. It reduces the virus and that should ultimately inform the way in which we respond from a governmental policy perspective. It's important we feel confident that the U.S. milk supply is 100% safe," Alcaine said. The USDA recently announced an order which will require dairy farms to submit samples of raw milk for viral testing. This is to monitor the spread of the disease in cattle.