Wild Coast Raw, based in Olympia, Washington, U.S., is recalling lots of 16- and 24-ounce frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats because it has the potential to be contaminated with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 also known as bird flu. H5N1 can be transmitted to animals eating contaminated product.
The product was distributed to pet food retailers in Washington State and Oregon and is frozen in a small round white plastic container with a green label. The affected lots are identified by a sticker on the lid with a number of #22660, #22653, #22641, #22639, #22672 and #22664 with a Best Buy date of 12/25. The recall is widened to include any raw material sharing similar production dates and lot codes as #22660 and #22664. These two lot codes were included in the WSDA’s public health alert on February 14.
The recall was initiated after sampling conducted by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) revealed the presence of the same strain of H5N1 in the affected cats and these products as well as sampling by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
It was reported last week that at least two domestic, indoor cats in King and Snohomish Counties in Washington State became infected with HPAI, with more cats being tested. According to WSDA, the pet owners reported feeding their cats potentially contaminated Wild Coast Raw pet food. At least one of the cats was euthanized while the other cat was treated by a veterinarian.
The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) reported the presumptive positive results of both cats with HPAI on Monday, February 24. WSDA received confirmatory results from the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL) Tuesday, February 25. Five cat deaths in Oregon from HPAI have been recorded, at least two involving the Wild Coast Raw pet food.
The contaminated pet food has been linked to severe illness in cats in Oregon in addition to the reports in Washington mentioned here. Wild Coast Raw and the WSDA continue to work collaboratively to address the source of the problem.
Pet food manufacturers should 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.
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.
