A voluntary recall has been issued for a line of raw and frozen pet food after a house cat in Oregon died from bird flu, a case linked to contaminated pet food. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as bird flu, in Northwest Naturals' Feline Turkey Recipe raw and frozen pet food.
The affected product, sold across 12 states in the United States and Canada, carries sell-by dates between May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. Consumers have been urged to dispose of the pet food immediately. Northwest Naturals has provided a hotline for refunds and inquiries at 866-637-1872.
The ODA's investigation revealed that the infected house cat, strictly confined indoors, contracted H5N1 through consumption of the contaminated pet food. State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz stated, "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." This confirmation underscores the serious implications of bird flu transmission through contaminated food sources.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about the spread of HPAI in the United States. While no human cases have been associated with the contaminated pet food, the ODA emphasized caution, advising against feeding raw meat products to pets. Members of the household where the cat lived are being monitored for symptoms, but no signs of infection have been reported.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported the first severe human case of H5N1 in the U.S. during the current outbreak. A Louisiana resident was hospitalized after exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. Meanwhile, California declared a state of emergency last week as the virus continues to spread, with the state reporting the highest level of infections nationwide.
Northwest Naturals' recall underscores the broader implications of the bird flu outbreak on public health and the pet food industry. Pet owners are being urged to remain vigilant, avoid raw meat products for their animals, and follow safety guidelines to minimize risk.
The recall and associated health concerns come as the United States grapples with a resurgence of avian influenza cases. The virus, which primarily affects birds, has seen periodic spillover into mammals and humans, raising alarms about its potential to evolve and spread. While the risk to the general population remains low, the CDC and state agencies continue to monitor the situation closely.