A cat food maker is recalling a line of raw and frozen chow that was sold in Michigan after authorities on Tuesday linked the death of a cat to a batch of feed contaminated with bird flu.
Northwest Naturals is telling people to toss 2-pound bags from a single batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe that have a best-by date between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The bags tested positive for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza bird flu, the company warned in a voluntary recall notice posted online.
“Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue,” the company said.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture linked the death of a house cat in Washington County to eating the Northwest Naturals pet food.
“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” Oregon State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said.
Dozens of people have been infected with the virus across the country in unrelated cases. California has declared a state of emergency and the spread among livestock has begun impacting the food supply. The virus has been detected in several locations in Michigan.
Can cats get bird flu?How to protect them and what else to know amid the outbreak
Where was the contaminated product sold?
The product is sold nationwide, according to Northwest Naturals, through distributors in the following states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington. It is also sold in British Columbia, Canada.
How can I tell if I have the product?
The affected product that Northwest Naturals is voluntarily recalling is one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food.
The recalled product is packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1.
What should I do with the cat food?
Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund.
For additional information or questions, customers may contact Northwest Naturals of Portland at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.
Customers can contact the store where they bought the pet food for a refund, Northwest Naturals said.
How do I know if my pet food store sells the product?
You can locate stores that sell Northwest Naturals products by using its store locator.
Bird flu-contaminated cat food has been linked to the death of several pets, prompting a recall of the affected products. The contaminated cat food, which was found to contain traces of the H5N1 bird flu virus, has been linked to the deaths of multiple cats who consumed the tainted food.
Pet owners are being urged to check their cat food supplies and look for any products that may be part of the recall. The affected products are mainly dry cat food varieties that were produced by a specific manufacturer and distributed to various pet stores nationwide.
The company responsible for the contaminated cat food has issued a recall of the affected products and is working closely with health officials to determine the source of the contamination. Pet owners are advised to stop feeding their cats the affected products immediately and to contact their veterinarian if their pet shows any signs of illness.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of ensuring the safety and quality of pet food products. Pet owners should always be vigilant and check the ingredients of the food they are feeding their pets to ensure that it meets the necessary standards and does not pose any risks to their beloved animals.
Tags:
- Bird flu
- Cat food
- Pet death
- Recall
- Contaminated
- Health alert
- Avian influenza
- Pet safety
- Animal health
- Food recall
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