A Portland-based pet food company, Northwest Naturals, has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of its raw frozen pet food after a house cat in Oregon died from eating one of its products that tested positive for bird flu. The affected product is the 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe, which was sold across the US and Canada.
The recall was prompted by laboratory testing, including genome sequencing, which confirmed that the infected cat’s virus matched the virus found in the pet food. The company has cooperated with local authorities, including the Oregon Department of Agriculture, to issue the voluntary recall.
Consumers who purchased the recalled product are advised to discard it immediately and contact the store where they bought it for a full refund. No human cases of bird flu have been linked to this incident, but people who lived with the infected cat are being monitored for symptoms.
It’s worth noting that pets can catch bird flu from eating undercooked or raw meat, sick or dead infected birds, or drinking unpasteurized milk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report 65 cases of bird flu in the US since April 2024, with mild symptoms including fever, sore throat, and fatigue, and more moderate to severe symptoms including high fever, difficulty breathing, and altered consciousness.
Northwest Naturals advises checking their website for the full list of recalled products and “best if used by” dates. The company is committed to ensuring customer safety and takes this incident seriously.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/25/us/bird-flu-pet-food-voluntary-recall/index.html