The Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning to pet food companies about the risk of H5N1 bird flu contamination in raw pet food and milk, urging them to take extra precautions to protect against the virus. Cats are particularly vulnerable to H5N1, and the FDA recommends that pet owners carefully consider the risks before feeding their animals uncooked meat or raw pet food.
Health officials have issued a warning to pet food companies regarding the risk of H5N1 bird flu contamination in raw pet food and milk. The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has advised manufacturers to implement extra precautions in their food safety plans, such as sourcing ingredients from healthy flocks and herds and using heat treatment to inactivate viruses.
Cats appear to be particularly vulnerable to H5N1, with numerous domestic and feral cats contracting the virus since the outbreak began in 2022. Several recent investigations have linked H5N1 transmission to cats through contaminated unpasteurized milk or uncooked meat. The FDA emphasizes that H5N1 can be fatal to both cats and dogs, urging pet owners to carefully consider the risks before feeding their animals uncooked meat or raw pet food. The FDA recommends heat treatments for inactivating H5N1 in meat, milk, and egg products. Consumers are advised to follow safe handling and thorough cooking guidelines for raw meat. Pets should also be prevented from hunting and consuming wild birds. While compliance with the FDA's guidance is voluntary, the agency could potentially implement stricter regulations if the number of cases increases. This could include requiring pathogen inactivation treatments for commercially available pet foods, regular testing, and warning labels on raw food products highlighting the risk of foodborne illness in pets and humans handling them.
H5N1 Bird Flu Pet Food FDA Raw Food Cats Dogs Food Safety Virus Contamination
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