A sudden recall in the pet food industry has spotlighted safety concerns as Northwest Naturals withdraws its raw turkey cat food products following the death of a feline from highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
Confirmed Link Between Contaminated Food and Fatal Infection
Testing by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) revealed positive results for HPAI H5N1 strain in samples of Northwest Naturals' Feline Turkey Recipe raw food. Subsequent analysis by the USDA's National Veterinary Services Laboratories and Oregon State University's diagnostic lab confirmed the virus in an indoor house cat from Washington County matched the contaminated pet food exactly.
"We have strong reason to believe this cat contracted H5N1 through consumption of Northwest Naturals' raw frozen pet food," stated Dr. Ryan Scholz, Oregon State Veterinarian. "The cat had no environmental exposure, and genomic sequencing showed identical viruses in both the food and the deceased animal."
Recall Scope and Immediate Actions
The voluntary recall affects specific 2-pound packages of Feline Turkey Recipe with expiration dates of May 21, 2026 (Lot B10) and June 23, 2026 (Lot B1). Northwest Naturals' Chinese distributor, Shanghai Lita Trading Co., confirmed the affected batches were never sold in China but preemptively removed all turkey formula products from authorized channels for safety verification.
This marks the first recall in Northwest Naturals' 20-year history. The company operates under USDA human-grade food standards through parent company Morasch Meats, a family-owned business with meat processing roots dating to 1956.
Regulatory Guidance for Pet Owners
The FDA issued updated recommendations emphasizing that HPAI primarily spreads through food, particularly raw meat and unpasteurized dairy. Authorities advise:
• Avoiding raw pet food containing ingredients from affected farms
• Thoroughly cooking all meat-based pet foods
• Preventing cats from hunting wild birds
• Applying similar precautions for dogs despite lower susceptibility
USDA surveillance programs are actively monitoring HPAI in domestic and wild mammals. The incident underscores ongoing challenges in ensuring absolute safety in raw pet food production, even under rigorous human-grade standards.