A Portland-based pet food company faces scrutiny following a domestic cat's death linked to contaminated raw food products.
According to Newsweek, Northwest Naturals has issued a voluntary recall of their 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe frozen pet food after testing confirmed bird flu contamination, which resulted in the death of an Oregon house cat.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture's investigation revealed a direct connection between the contaminated pet food and the cat's infection.
State Veterinarian Dr. Ryan Scholz emphasized that genome sequencing confirmed an exact match between the virus found in the raw pet food and the infected cat, which had no outdoor exposure.
The recalled product, packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with best-if-used-by dates extending to June 23, 2026, had reached multiple states across America.
Distribution channels included Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as British Columbia in Canada.
Northwest Naturals has urged consumers to immediately dispose of the affected products and seek refunds from their points of purchase. The company has established dedicated customer service channels to address concerns during business hours.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture stated:
This case reminds us that feeding raw meat products to pets or consuming them yourself can lead to severe illness.
California currently stands as the epicenter of the bird flu outbreak, reporting 35 human cases primarily linked to cattle exposure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented 65 confirmed human cases nationwide this year.
Most infected individuals have experienced mild symptoms resembling the common flu, including fever, cough, and fatigue. However, health officials warn that severe cases can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and respiratory distress.
Virus expert Professor Ed Hutchinson from the University of Glasgow offered insight into the potential dangers:
When an influenza virus from a different animal adapts to spread effectively among humans, the result is a pandemic... The more encounters the virus has with humans, the more chances it has to adapt to growing in them, and if it can mix and match its genes with a human seasonal flu, that could accelerate this process.
Local and state health authorities have implemented monitoring protocols for household members who had contact with the infected cat. The Oregon Health Authority maintains that the risk of bird flu transmission to humans remains low in the state despite one confirmed human case.
Federal and state experts have issued comprehensive guidelines to prevent disease spread. These recommendations include avoiding raw or undercooked meat products and raw dairy, maintaining proper hand hygiene after handling raw animal products, and limiting contact with sick or dead animals.
Northwest Naturals initiated a voluntary recall of their Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food following confirmation of bird flu contamination that proved fatal to an Oregon house cat. The incident has sparked a multi-state investigation and heightened awareness about the risks of raw pet food products. The recall affects products distributed across twelve states and parts of Canada, with health officials closely monitoring the situation while implementing preventive measures to protect both animal and human health.
