Northwest Naturals has ended its voluntary recall of a limited production run of its frozen Feline Turkey Recipe, following a comprehensive FDA audit. The recall was initiated on December 24, 2024, after the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) reported H5N1 contamination in an opened bag of the product, which was associated with the death of a cat. In response, the company worked closely with both the ODA and the FDA, which conducted an audit of the co-manufacturer’s facility from late December 2024 until February 7, 2025.
The audit found no evidence of H5N1 or Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the facility, and the source of the alleged contamination was not identified. As a result, the status of the voluntary recall with ODA has been updated to “closed” and the recall has since been terminated. “We are deeply grateful for the patience and support that you, your customers, and our partners have shown us during this process,” the company said in a letter to customers.
Northwest Naturals emphasized that its products are manufactured in USDA- and FDA-regulated facilities, following strict hygiene, quality control and safety protocols, including SSOP, GMP, HACCP, lot segregation and human-grade HPP standards. In line with the FDA's directive issued on January 17, 2025, the company has updated its food safety plan to address H5N1 as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard, ensuring enhanced supplier guarantees to further safeguard pet health.
FDA urges pet food manufacturers to update safety plans for H5N1 risks
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring pet food manufacturers subject to the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule to reanalyze their food safety plans to address H5N1, a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The requirement applies to manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients such as meat, milk or eggs derived from poultry or cattle in cat and dog food.
This update follows recent H5N1 cases in domestic and wild cats in states like California, Oregon, Washington and Colorado, which were linked to the consumption of contaminated food products. While cats can experience severe illness or death from H5N1, dogs generally exhibit milder symptoms and lower mortality.
Under the PCAF rule, manufacturers are required to identify and evaluate known or reasonably foreseeable hazards in their food safety plans. The FDA has deemed H5N1 a foreseeable hazard for pet food manufacturers using certain raw or unprocessed animal ingredients. Reanalysis is necessary to incorporate the latest scientific findings and address the risk of H5N1 transmission through pet food.
The FDA recommends the following practices to minimize H5N1 risks:
- Source ingredients only from healthy herds or flocks.
- Implement processing steps such as heat treatment, which has been shown to inactivate the virus in meat, milk and eggs.
- Establish supply-chain controls to verify ingredients are free of H5N1 contamination.
The agency has also provided resources and scientific literature to help manufacturers update their plans. Companies that implement preventive controls will contribute to protecting pet health and reducing the spread of H5N1.
