CA Company Recalls Raw Cat Food Due To Bird Flu Concerns

EL CAJON, CA — A San Diego area pet food maker has recalled raw chicken products that are potentially contaminated with the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu.

El Cajon-based Savage Pet this week recalled one lot of chicken boxes following reports of two cats contracting bird flu after eating the raw food.

The recalled products were distributed to retailers in California, Colorado, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, according to a notice the U.S. Food and Drug Administration published Tuesday.

This is the latest recall in recent months tied to raw cat food products potentially contaminated with the virus that has sickened and killed cats.

Also see: Pet Food Recall: More Cats Sick After Bird Flu Found In Another Raw Pet Food Brand

"Savage Pet has always been dedicated to the health of its feline consumers," a company statement reads.

"All of our poultry ingredients are USDA inspected and passed for human consumption," the statement continues. "Our suppliers follow the National Poultry Improvement Plan which monitors for H5/H7 and work under daily USDA inspection. Savage Pet has adhered to Good Manufacturing Practices and sanitation standard operating procedures for 10 years."

Savage Pet, which sells "prey-based" cat food, was first notified in February of a cat in Colorado that contracted bird flu and recovered. Colorado State University tested the product and results were "non-negative," according to Savage Pet. The product was sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, for additional testing, which confirmed the negative results.

On Thursday, Savage Pet learned about another case in New York, where a kitten contracted bird flu after eating food from the same lot number. While testing for that case is ongoing, the company issued a precautionary recall for 66 large chicken boxes and 74 small chicken boxes of food with the lot code and best-by date of 11152026.

All retailers that may have received the affected product were notified. Consumers who still have the product were urged to return it to their retailer for a full refund.