Northwest Naturals Pet Food Linked to Bird Flu in Cat, Issues Recall
By India Edwards HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2024 -- A batch of pet food has been voluntarily recalled nationwide after a cat in Oregon died of bird flu, an illness state officials linked to contaminated food.
The recall, according to a news release published Dec. 25, 2024, involves Northwest Naturals’ Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food with sell-by dates between May 21, 2026, and Jun. 23, 2026.
Tests confirmed the batch was contaminated with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), commonly known as bird flu, according to a company statement.
This comes after a recent study highlighted concerns that cats could serve as carriers of the virus, as they are susceptible to infection through contaminated food or contact with infected birds.
Consumers should discard the affected pet food and may contact Northwest Naturals at 866-637-1872 for a refund.
“This cat was strictly an indoor cat; it was not exposed to the virus in its environment, and results from the genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and infected cat were exact matches to each other,” State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz told NBC News.
State health officials are monitoring the household for bird flu symptoms, though no human cases have been reported.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the first severe human case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States during this outbreak. The individual, hospitalized in Louisiana, was potentially exposed through a backyard flock.
Sources
- NBC News, news release, Dec. 25, 2024
- Northwest Naturals, news release, Dec. 24, 2024
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
New Bride Survived Removal Of A 40-Pound Tumor
MONDAY, July 14, 2025 — A young woman became a June bride months after surviving complex surgery to remove a 40-pound tumor from her body, Cedars-Sinai doctors...
Killer Whales Show a Softer Side, Sharing Food With People
SATURDAY, July 12, 2025 — They’re known as "killer whales," but orcas have a surprisingly soft and even generous side. "Orcas often share food with each other &mdash...
Ritz Peanut Butter Crackers Recalled Over Labeling Mistake
FRIDAY, July 11, 2025 — A labeling mistake has led to a nationwide recall of four different types of Ritz Peanut Butter Cracker Sandwich cartons, federal health officials...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.