Warning Issued Over Contaminated Cat Food
Federal health officials have raised alarms regarding certain lots of raw cat food that might be contaminated with H5N1 bird flu. This comes after a pet cat in San Francisco, which consumed the food, was infected and subsequently had to be euthanized.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that two specific lots of RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats tested positive for the virus. A review by the health department in San Francisco indicated that the virus detected in the cat matched the strain found in the pet food.
This incident marks the first documented case of H5N1 infection linked to raw food in pet cats since March. The U.S. Agriculture Department has reported that nearly 70 domestic cats have contracted H5N1 this year, primarily after ingesting raw milk or contaminated pet food.
The lots in question are CCS 25 077, which has a sell-by date of September 18, 2026, and CCS 250 093, which is set to expire on October 3, 2026. RAWR raw pet food is sold frozen and needs to be thawed before use. Although there hasn’t been a formal recall, representatives from the California-based company mentioned that they removed the affected lots from circulation weeks ago.
RAWR Raw Cat Food Chicken Eats comes in frozen 2.5-pound resealable bags, containing 40 one-ounce servings. This product is available in stores nationwide as well as online.
The National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the presence of the virus in both the food samples and the cat. Genetic tests revealed that this virus lineage was previously observed in late 2022 and is not currently active. The same strain has been prevalent in birds and dairy cattle across the U.S., including California.
H5N1 can lead to severe illness or death in birds, poultry, and even mammals like cats. While the virus hasn’t been detected in dogs within the U.S., fatal cases have occurred in other countries. Animals that are young, elderly, or have weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to severe illness.
Thus far, no human infections from H5N1 bird flu have been reported among individuals who have handled raw pet food. However, it’s important to note that humans can contract the virus if it enters their eyes, nose, or mouth.
