Certain packages of cat food from the brand Northwest Naturals of Portland were recalled this week after the product tested positive for avian influenza (HPAI) virus. A press release from the company regarding the voluntary recall noted that this virus is “highly pathogenic.”
Northwest Naturals said that its 2-pound bags of “Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food” are included in the recall, conducted in cooperation with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, Salem, Oregon.
These bags have “best if used by” dates between May 21, 2026 and June 23, 2026 and they were sold through distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minneapolis, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington in the U.S. They were also sold in British Columbia, Canada.
“Consumption of raw or uncooked pet food contaminated with HPAI can cause illness in animals. To date, one case of illness in a domestic cat has been reported in connection with this issue,” said the Northwest Naturals press release.
According to the CDC, an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in household cats was reported by the World Health Organization in July 2023. This week, the Wild Felid Advocacy Center of Washington – a sanctuary for wildcats – also reported an HPAI outbreak. It said in a Facebook post that an Amur/Bengal tiger, four cougars, an African caracal, two Canada lynx cats, a Geoffrey cat, a Bengal cat, a Eurasian lynx, four bobcats, and five African servals had died.
“We are working closely with federal and state animal health authorities, as well as Mason County health officials, to ensure the safety of our state, volunteers, and all animals in our care,” said the advocacy center.
For additional information or questions on the Northwest Naturals recall, customers may contact the company at info@nw-naturals.net or 866-637-1872 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday.