Northwest Naturals of Portland recalled its Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after a house cat in Alabama died from bird flu (H5N1). State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz confirmed that the cat likely contracted the virus from the contaminated food, noting a genetic match between the virus in the cat and the food, as CBS12 reported.
This outbreak has raised concerns for both pet owners and public health monitors. While no human infections have been reported, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) is monitoring human interactions with the infected pet for signs of illness. According to WPTV, the affected product, sold in 2-pound plastic bags, has "Best if used by" dates of 05/21/26 and 06/23/2026. Consumers are urged to discard this batch and seek refunds where purchased. The recall affects several states, including Florida, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and British Columbia.
Northwest Naturals is actively urging customers to safely dispose of any potentially contaminated pet food and reach out to retailers for refunds.
Both state health officials and the ODA are discouraging the feeding of raw or undercooked meats to pets, which applies equally to raw milk due to the risk of transmitting harmful pathogens; the list of such pathogens includes, but is not limited to Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli alongside the bird flu virus.
For additional details or to inquire about refunds, pet owners are directed towards contacting Northwest Natural's customer service at [email protected] or by calling their helpline at 866-637-1872 during business hours, which are from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
