Popular pet food brand issues recall over bird flu contamination

Morasch Meats is recalling its Northwest Naturals 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw and frozen food due to contamination with the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), linked to the death of an indoor cat in Oregon. The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has specified that the recall applies to products with 'best if used by' dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/26 B1, distributed across 12 U. S. states and British Columbia, Canada. Affected customers are advised to immediately discard the recalled food and contact their retailer for a full refund.

To mitigate the spread of bird flu, state and federal officials recommend avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked meat and limiting interactions with sick or dead animals. Bird flu has been increasingly affecting both wild and captive animals, including the deaths of 20 big cats at a sanctuary in Shelton, Washington, and the detection of the virus in wild cougars and agricultural workers. Public awareness and precautionary measures are essential to protect both pets and humans from potential infection.