Raw cat food and avian influenza (HPAI)

All The Best is temporarily pausing sales of unpasteurized raw poultry cat foods as we monitor developments on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also known as “bird flu.”

One of the raw chicken cat foods we sell has been recalled due to the presence of H5N1, a variant of HPAI capable of infecting cats and linked to severe illness. Although only one brand and recipe was affected, we are taking this precautionary step to prioritize feline health and safety.

Some frozen and freeze-dried poultry cat foods are available. At this time, All The Best requires that all cat foods that contain any “bird” ingredients (such as chicken, turkey, duck, or egg) undergo a pasteurization step. In the case of frozen and freeze-dried foods, they must be high-pressure processed (HPP) and/or treated with heat at a temperature sufficient to inactivate HPAI. As indicated by research, industry food safety experts advise that these safety methods are a robust safeguard against HPAI.

If your cat currently eats raw poultry and their favorite food is not available, we recommend consulting a pet care specialist for guidance on alternative proteins or food options.

At this time, no dogs have been affected.

Thank you for your understanding and trust.

Recall Notice: Wild Coast Free-Range Chicken raw cat food, Best-by 12/25

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has reported that Wild Coast Free-Range Chicken raw cat food with the lot code 22660 has tested positive for avian flu H5N1 and has been linked to severe illness and death in cats in Oregon and Washington. As a precaution, Wild Coast has issued a voluntary recall of all lot codes of free-range chicken raw cat food with a best-by date of 12/25. if you have purchased this product after December 20 and have some remaining at home, you can check the best-by date. If it is 12/25, you are advised to stop feeding it immediately and return it to the store you purchased it from for a refund.

No other products have been associated with these recent cases, and no dogs have been affected.

Statement from Wild Coast Raw

We invite you to review Wild Coast Raw’s updated information on Facebook or Instagram for additional information.

The Northwest Naturals Voluntary Recall has been closed

The FDA’s audit of Northwest Naturals did not contain any findings related to H5N1, and the FDA did not identify the source of the virus initially detected in one opened bag of Northwest Naturals Raw Feline Turkey Recipe. Visit Northwest Natural’s website for more information.

Keeping your dogs and cats healthy and happy

At All The Best, your pets’ wellness is our utmost priority. For over 40 years, we’ve been helping cats and dogs live their best lives through better nutrition. We were the first in the area to offer raw pet food, and we continue to see the incredible benefits of a less-processed, biologically appropriate diet time and time again.

What You Need to Know About Avian Flu

You may have heard about avian flu (also called HPAI, bird flu, or the variant H5N1) making the rounds again. It is a virus that has been around for decades and usually affects birds in the colder months, but the current strain H5N1 has shown itself capable of mutating and infecting other animals.

Cats are at risk: Cats can get the virus if they’re exposed to infected birds, their droppings or water sources, or contaminated food.
Dogs are less at risk: There have been zero reported cases of dogs getting avian flu in the U.S. so far.
Food supply safety: The USDA has very strict rules to keep avian flu out of meat and poultry products (you might see this reflected in the price of eggs).

We’re keeping a close eye on things and will always share what we know to keep your pets safe.

Why We Trust the Foods We Carry

We’re confident in the quality of the foods we sell. While no food is completely immune to contamination, our raw food manufacturers have been responding to the situation with additional safety steps designed to keep HPAI out of their foods. Cooked food has almost no risk of contamination. We continue to believe in the benefits of raw and fresh diets. All our products are guaranteed, and if you ever have concerns, we are always happy to help you find a new food that works for you and your pet.

How Our Raw Food Partners Keep Their Foods Safe

All The Best maintains close relationships with our raw food partners and trusts that they are doing all they can to provide foods that are safe and healthy for our pets. Because we exclusively carry only top-quality foods, our raw food partners implement several or all of the following points of safety:

They have included avian flu as a known risk in their hazard management plans.
They use USDA-inspected and passed (human-grade) ingredients.
Some manufacture in USDA-inspected (human food) facilities.
They trace ingredients from start to finish.
They require enhanced guarantees from their ingredient suppliers that they are not supplying HPAI-contaminated products.
They follow good manufacturing practices, including hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plans, Safe Quality Food (SQF) certification, and/or full-time USDA staff on-site.
Many use high-pressure processing (HPP) at pressures designed to inactivate viruses and kill pathogens.
They conduct batch testing for pathogens (currently bacterial and fungal, though we anticipate large-scale testing for avian flu to be available and utilized soon).

We’re Here to Help You Choose the Best Food
Not sure about raw food? That’s okay! Raw diets aren’t the only way to keep your pets healthy. If you’re thinking about trying something different, stop by any All The Best Pet Care location, and we’ll help you find a great alternative.

As we learn more, we’ll keep updating our webpage so you can stay in the loop.

FAQs

Is raw food safe to feed?
No food is risk-free, but we believe the risk is very low in non-poultry foods, and we at All The Best are doing everything we can to reduce the risk of avian flu in our foods as much as possible. We are staying up-to-date on current information and keeping our customers and staff informed. We are working with every raw food producer we carry to ensure they are considering avian flu in their sourcing and manufacturing protocols. We are only selling poultry cat foods that have undergone HPP or heat treatment. We continue to believe that raw feeding offers many health benefits, and trust the brands we carry enough to continue feeding them to our own cats and dogs.

Can dogs get avian flu?
Right now, the risk to dogs is very low. So far, there haven’t been any cases of dogs in the U.S. getting avian flu from food.

What’s being done to keep raw food safe?
The USDA and other agencies enforce strict rules, like testing poultry and beef before slaughter. Our raw food partners add even more safeguards, like HPP treatment or applying heat to their freeze-dried foods. The FDA also recently began requiring pet food manufacturers to specifically include avian flu in their food safety plans.

Does cooking kill avian flu?
Yes: cooking food to 165°F kills the virus and other pathogens. Our fully cooked foods include cans, pouches, and Tetra Paks, air-dried food, gently cooked frozen or fresh foods, and kibble.

What else can I do?
The biggest risk for cats is contact with infected birds, outdoors or through contaminated food. Keeping your cat indoors and away from birds and their droppings and avoiding unpasteurized poultry is the best way to protect them.

What’s the FDA saying about raw pet food?
“Scientific information is evolving, but at this time, it is known that H5N1 can be transmitted to cats and dogs when they eat products from infected poultry or cattle (e.g., unpasteurized milk, uncooked meat, or unpasteurized eggs) that have not undergone a processing step that is capable of inactivating the virus, such as pasteurizing, cooking or canning” (source). Manufacturers of raw pet food have been directed to include avian flu risk management in their food safety plans moving forward.

Have more questions? Stop by and chat with one of our pet care specialists. We’re here to help your pets stay happy, healthy, and safe!