Recall After Pet Death: 'Immediately Discard the Product and Contact the Place of Purchase'

Northwest Naturals announced a voluntary recall on Tuesday for a batch of cat food linked to bird flu contamination, which has been associated with the death of at least one house cat.

The company issued the recall for its Northwest Naturals brand two-pound “Feline Turkey Recipe” raw frozen pet food after tests detected the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), according to a notice shared by the company.

“Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals,” the alert stated.

“So far, one domestic cat has been reported ill in connection with this issue,” the notice continued.

Customers who purchased the affected product are advised to “immediately discard the product and contact the place of purchase for a full refund.”

The impacted cat food is sold in two-pound plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026.

This product was distributed across the United States and in British Columbia.

The recall is being conducted in collaboration with the Oregon Department of Agriculture in Salem, Oregon.

Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Oregon State University confirmed that a house cat in Washington County contracted H5N1 and died after consuming the raw frozen pet food.

Further testing verified “a genetic match between the virus found in the raw and frozen pet food and the infected cat.”

Dr. Ryan Scholz, State Veterinarian for the Oregon Department of Agriculture, stated, “We are confident that this cat contracted H5N1 by eating the Northwest Naturals raw and frozen pet food.”

“This cat was strictly an indoor cat and had no exposure to the virus in its environment,” Scholz explained. “Genome sequencing confirmed that the virus recovered from the raw pet food and the infected cat were exact matches.”

Consumers with affected products can contact Northwest Naturals of Portland by email at info@nw-naturals.net or call 866-637-1872 between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM PST, Monday through Friday.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture urged residents to avoid consuming raw or undercooked meats, limit contact with sick or deceased animals, and practice proper hygiene after handling raw animal products.

“This case underscores the risks associated with feeding raw meat products to pets or consuming them yourself, as it can lead to serious illness,” the agency warned.

It further noted that raw meat can harbor harmful pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli, and H5N1, all of which can be eliminated through proper cooking.