On March 1st, 2025, the FDA announced a cat food recall related to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1, more commonly known as bird flu. Both humans and pets can be affected by bird flu, so it's important to stop serving the recalled food if you have it.
Which Products were Recalled?
Wild Coast Raw of Wild Coast LLC in Olympia, Washington recalled certain lots of its frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula because it had the potential to carry bird flu. More specifically, the recall included lot codes #22660, #22653, #22641, #22639, #22672 and #22664 with a Best Buy date of 12/25. The lot code appears on a sticker on the food packaging's lid.
The affected products came in 16 oz and 24 oz packages, and they were distributed to pet supply stores in the states of Washington and Oregon.
The recall occurred after the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Washington State Department of Agriculture found a strain of H5N1 in the food during testing. The pet food company is currently working with Washington to determine the cause of this problem.
How Does Bird Flu Affect Cats and Humans?
Both humans and cat can be harmed by bird flu. Symptoms in cats could include lethargy, fever, decreased appetite, irritated eyes, eye discharge, nose discharge, breathing problems, tremors, stiff body movements, lack of coordination, or blindness. If you notice any unusual symptoms after your cat ate this food, contact your vet right away.
Cats can pass bird flu to humans, and we can also get it from handling the infected food. Humans with bird flu could experience coughing, sneezing, sore throat, eye irritation, muscle aches, headaches, fatigue, fever, breathing problems, rashes, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Seek medical help right away if you experience any of those symptoms after coming into contact with the recalled food.
What to Do with the Recalled Food
Always wash your hands after handling cat food, especially recalled food. Stop feeding the recalled food to your cat immediately and dispose of it. Then, wash anything the food came into contact with, such as bowls, measuring cups, counters, and storage containers. Do not sell or donate the food.
You can contact your place of purchase for a full refund. To learn more about this recall, you can contact Wild Coast Raw at info@wildcoastraw.com or (360) 591-3543 from 8am to 4 pm PST
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