Two popular raw pet food brands have issued voluntary recalls after products tested positive for bird flu, raising concerns among pet owners and prompting wider investigations into food safety.
Northwest Naturals and Monarch Raw Pet Food are under scrutiny after cases of avian influenza, or H5N1, were linked to their products. The first warning came in late December when a cat in Washington County, Oregon, became seriously ill and later died. Genome sequencing confirmed a match between the virus found in the cat and in the food it had eaten.
Northwest Naturals responded by recalling specific lots of its products, which were sold both online—including Amazon—and at retail stores across the United States. The company previously issued a smaller, regional recall in the Pacific Northwest but expanded it after identifying the potential for nationwide contamination. Consumers are advised to check the best-by dates and discard any affected food.
Meanwhile, in California, Monarch Raw Pet Food has come under investigation after a local cat tested positive for H5N1. The brand, sold mainly at farmers markets in Los Angeles County, has not been officially recalled. However, local health officials say test results suggest the food may be linked to the infection.
Monarch Raw Pet Food released a statement on its website, stating:
“At Monarch Raw Food Pet Company, we adhere to the highest industry standards when it comes to quality and safety… There is currently no credible evidence to suggest our products are linked to avian influenza or any other health risks.”
While investigations continue, Monarch products remain on sale. Authorities across the country are now increasing testing of raw meat and dairy products for signs of bird flu contamination.
Pet owners are urged to be vigilant. If your cat has consumed any raw pet food and begins showing symptoms—such as nasal or eye discharge, lethargy, loss of appetite, or tremors—contact your veterinarian immediately.
Symptoms of H5N1 can take several days to appear and the virus is highly contagious among animals. So far, no humans exposed to the affected food have contracted bird flu, but health experts advise monitoring your own health if there’s been close contact.
The recalls and illnesses have sparked a nationwide review of raw pet food safety, highlighting the need for both transparency in labeling and stricter pathogen testing across the pet food industry.
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