Pet Food Recall Linked to Bird Flu Contamination: What to Know

Pet food company Northwest Naturals is recalling a batch of its raw turkey pet food after a cat died from bird flu linked to the product.

In a press release this week, the Oregon-based company said its 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food tested positive for the avian influenza virus.

The recall highlights growing concerns about the potential for spread of bird flu among animals and humans, with recent cases reported in both cats and people. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that the risk to the general public remains low.

The voluntary recall applies to plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. The product was distributed through various retailers in the US and British Columbia. 

The Oregon Department of Agriculture also issued a statement about the recall, noting that testing confirmed a house cat contracted the H5N1 strain of the virus and died after consuming the product.

“We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food,” Oregon Department of Agriculture veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz said in a statement. “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.”

Pet owners who purchased the product are advised to throw it out immediately and contact the company for a refund.

This recall follows news from the CDC last week confirming the first US-based severe human case of bird flu in Louisiana, linked to exposure to sick birds in backyard flocks. Two additional human cases were recently reported by the CDC: an adult in Missouri in September and a child in California in November, both without clear exposure to sick animals.

The bird flu also prompted a recent recall of raw milk in California that tested positive for the virus. Two cats that consumed the milk and later died were found to have the bird flu.

For more information on the Northwest Naturals recall, consumers can contact the company at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872.