Los Angeles County health officials warned residents Tuesday against feeding their pets raw food following a voluntary recall of Northwest Naturals Brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe Raw & Frozen Pet Food due to the detection of H5 avian influenza virus in samples of the product.
The recalled products are 2-pound packaged plastic bags with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, B10 and June 23, 2026, B1, the county Department of Public Health said. Pet owners are urged to immediately dispose of these products.
Residents who have fed their pets recalled products or other raw meat or dairy products and notice their pet experiencing symptoms should contact their veterinarian immediately.
The Oregon Department of Agriculture has confirmed that a domestic cat contracted H5 avian influenza and died after eating raw and frozen pet food, officials said. Products are also sold in California.
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In addition, the Department of Public Health recently confirmed the presence of the H5 blue virus in four domestic cats that consumed recalled milk and later became ill and died, officials said. This investigation is ongoing.
Cats infected with the virus can become severely ill and may exhibit the following symptoms: neurological signs, respiratory signs or liver disease that can rapidly progress to death.
The department is also investigating an additional possible case of bird flu in three cats from a different household.
One cat tested positive for bird flu, a rare result in cats that indicates the possibility of bird flu. Two other cats, who died of respiratory illness, also presumably tested positive for influenza A. The Department of Public Health is awaiting the results of those tests.
These cats were not known to have been exposed to raw milk, but the department is investigating other means of infection, such as consumption of raw meat.
The province advises residents to avoid consuming all raw milk and meat products, and not to feed those items to their pets.
Raw dairy, meat and poultry products can contain harmful bacteria and viruses, including bird flu, which can pose serious risks to a person’s health and the health of their pets.
According to the Department of Public Health, the overall risk of H5 avian influenza to the public remains low. County officials said there is currently no evidence of the virus spreading from person to person.
On Monday, the department confirmed its first case of bird flu in a Los Angeles County resident who was exposed to livestock infected with the virus at a work site.
For questions or to find a nearby clinic or doctor, residents can call the department’s information line at 833-540-0473, which is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
