Safety & Quality: Page 3

Senate confirms Marty Makary to lead FDA

Pet food associations commend the confirmation, pledge to work with the new commissioner.

A former Johns Hopkins surgeon, Makary has been viewed as a moderate pick and will report to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Petfood Forum News

What is the state of US pet food ingredient approvals?

A closing panel discussion at Petfood Forum 2025 will tackle this issue with key industry players answering your questions.

The expiration of a key AAFCO-FDA agreement on Oct. 1, 2024, eliminated a major regulatory pathway for pet food ingredient approvals, which could impact innovation in the industry.

Ingredient Issues

Quality is…?

Various business strategies may give ‘quality’ different meanings, but it should be a bedrock of every company.

Quality should be part of every business strategy and is, in fact, core to a company’s success, no matter what form it takes.

Pet Food Processing

Study: HPP preserves nutrients, extends shelf life

Research from JBT Marel finds high-pressure processing maintains antioxidants and flavor while improving food safety.

The JBT Marel study concluded that high-pressure processing did not affect the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds during different HPP treatment conditions.

Avian Influenza

24 avian influenza cases in cats detected in February 2025

In February, federal officials confirmed cases of bird flu affecting domestic cats in Washington, New Jersey, Colorado, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Montana and South Dakota.

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Safety & Quality

Navigating pet nutrition myths in the social media age

Misinformation spreads quickly online — pet food professionals must step up to educate consumers.

Pet owners need to research to ensure their decisions are based on science and appropriate for their specific pet before making nutritional decisions.

Pet Food Recalls

Savage Cat Food recalled for avian influenza risk

In February, Savage Pet was made aware of one cat in Colorado who contracted H5N1, got sick and recovered.

Chicken Boxes 3

Avian Influenza

2 died out of 3 cats infected with bird flu connected to raw pet food in New York

All three avian influenza cases were correlated to Savage Cat Food raw pet food.

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Pet Food Recalls

Wild Coast recalls more raw pet food due to bird flu risk

Voluntary recall impacts frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food for cats, which was distributed to pet food retailers in Washington State and Oregon.

According to officials, 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.

Pet Food Safety

Raw pet food linked to more avian influenza in cats in Washington, California

Two cats in Washington confirmed with HPAI, while a house cat from San Diego, California, is suspected to be the first case of bird flu in that county.

The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory reported the positive results of both cats with HPAI on February 24.

Pet Food Safety

CDC studied mysterious bird flu cases in dairy workers’ cats

Despite a connection to dairies, the exact transmission route of the virus to these indoor cats remained undetermined. The virus may have been spread from livestock to humans to cats.

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Pet Food Regulations

PURR Act of 2025 sparks concerns for AAFCO

AAFCO warns proposed legislation may impact label transparency and consumer protection in the pet food industry.

AAFCO is concerned the PURR Act of 2025, as it is currently presented, could negatively impact consumer protection, reduce transparency in pet food labeling and jeopardize the safety of pet food products.

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