Voluntary pet food recall issued after Oregon house cat dies from eating product that tested positive for bird flu

Fri Dec 27 09:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Nationwide Recall of Pet Food After Cat Dies from Bird Flu

**Portland, OR** – Northwest Naturals, a Portland-based pet food company, has issued a nationwide voluntary recall of one batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after a cat in Oregon died from avian influenza (H5N1), commonly known as bird flu.

The recall, announced Tuesday, affects 2-pound bags with “best if used by” dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The affected product was distributed across the United States and in British Columbia, Canada.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) confirmed that laboratory testing by the USDA and Oregon State University linked the cat’s death to the contaminated pet food. Genetic sequencing showed a perfect match between the virus found in the deceased cat and the virus in the recalled food. The cat, which was strictly an indoor animal, had no other exposure to the virus.

State Veterinarian Ryan Scholz emphasized the direct link, stating, “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food.”

While no human cases have been linked to this incident, the Oregon Health Authority is monitoring individuals who lived with the infected cat. The CDC recently reported a severe human case of H5N1 in Louisiana, highlighting the potential risk, though human transmission remains rare.

Northwest Naturals urges consumers who purchased the recalled product to discard it immediately and contact their retailer for a full refund. The recall was initiated by the company in cooperation with the ODA and is not an FDA mandate. The incident underscores the risks associated with feeding pets raw or undercooked meat.