Another cat food brand has issued a recall over concerns the product may be contaminated with the bird flu.
Wild Coast LLC dba Wild Coast Raw is recalling its frozen Boneless Free Range Chicken Formula raw pet food which could contain H5N1 and be transmitted to animals that consume it.
‘People who fed pets the recalled products should watch for symptoms of bird flu in their pets, including fever, lethargy, low appetite, reddened or inflamed eyes, discharge from the eyes and nose, difficulty breathing, and neurological signs like tremors, stiff body movements, seizure, lack of coordination, or blindness,’ states a US Food and Drug Administration advisory.
Pets showing any of those symptoms after eating the item should be taken to a veterinarian.
The company based in Olympia, Washington, announced the voluntary recall on Saturday.
Affected 16 ounce and 24 ounce products were distributed to pet food retailers in Oregon and Washington state. They are white round plastic containers with green labels and have a best buy date of December 2025 and the lot number 22660, 22653, 22641, 22639, 22672 or 22664. The recall was expanded to include lot codes 22660 and 22664.
There have been no reports of humans becoming infected with the bird flu through handling the raw cat food. However, infection is possible through contact via the eyes, nose and mouth.
‘People should wash their hands and handling the raw product and sanitize contact surfaces such as countertops, refrigerators, bowls, or utensils,’ states the advisory.
Anyone who experiences bird flu symptoms like eye irritation or redness, sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, coughing, sneezing, body aches, fever, headaches, difficulty breathing, fatigue, rashes, seizures, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, should seek medical treatment.
Customers are advised to discard the product securely to prevent wildlife from eating it, and contact the retailer for a refund.
It is the second cat food brand in the US to do a recall over the bird flu recently.
In December, Northwest Naturals recalled its two-pound Feline Turkey Recipe after an indoor cat that consumed it contracted the bird flu and died. It was sold in 12 US states – Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington – and British Columbia.
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