Los Angeles County health officials on Tuesday issued a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals brand 2-pound Feline Turkey Recipe raw and frozen pet food after the H5 avian influenza virus was detected in product samples, urging residents not to feed raw food to their pets. warned.
According to the county Department of Public Health, the recalled products are packaged in 2-pound plastic bags with “use by” dates of May 21, 2026, B10 and June 23, 2026, B1. There is. Pet owners were urged to immediately discard these products.
Residents who have fed their pets the recalled products or other raw meat or dairy products and notice their pets exhibiting symptoms should contact their veterinarian immediately.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a pet cat contracted H5 avian influenza and died after eating recalled raw frozen pet food, officials announced. Products are also sold in California.
A list of retailers can be found on the product website.
Additionally, DPH recently confirmed H5 bird blue in four domestic cats who ingested the recalled milk and later became ill and died, officials said. That investigation is ongoing.
Cats infected with the virus can develop a severe illness that can progress rapidly and lead to death, including neurological signs, respiratory symptoms, and liver disease.
Police are also investigating the possibility that three cats from another household were infected with bird flu.
One cat tested positive for influenza A. This is a rare finding in cats and indicates the possibility of avian influenza. Two other cats who died from respiratory illness are also presumed to have tested positive for influenza A. DPH is awaiting the results of those tests.
These cats are not known to have been exposed to raw milk, but the agency is investigating other means of infection, including ingestion of raw meat.
The county advises residents to avoid consuming raw milk and raw meat products and not to feed them to pets.
Raw dairy, meat, and poultry products can harbor harmful bacteria and viruses, including bird flu, and can pose a serious health risk to people and pets.
DPH says the overall risk of H5 avian influenza to the general public remains low. County officials say there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus.
The department on Monday confirmed the first case of avian influenza in a Los Angeles County resident who was exposed to infected livestock at a work site.
If you have questions or want to find a clinic or doctor near you, residents can call the department’s InfoLine at 833-540-0473. Phone hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
