Letter to Savage Cat Food Consumers 2.17.25 updated 3.06.25 & 3.14.25
Dear customers,
In February, Savage Pet was made aware of one cat in Colorado who contracted H5N1, got sick and recovered. Colorado State University Laboratory tested sealed packets of Savage Cat Food using PCR testing for H5N1. The PCR test results were “non-negative” for lot number 11152026 (chicken packets). The product with “non-negative” PCR results was sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames, Iowa for virus isolation testing.
As a precautionary measure for our consumers, we initiated a market withdrawal while awaiting final test results. On 02/17/25 every retailer who may have received the lot code in question was contacted and informed to return it for proper destruction.
On 03/06/25 the virus isolation testing results from the NVSL confirmed the virus to be negative.
On 3/13/2025 Savage Pet was made aware of an additional case in New York of a kitten that was feeding lot 11152026 who contracted avian flu. Further testing is ongoing.
To ensure maximum safety we modified our market withdrawal to a recall on 03/14/25.
Savage Pet has always been dedicated to the health of its feline consumers. All of our poultry ingredients are USDA inspected and passed for human consumption. 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.
All retailers who may have received the product with lot code/best buy date of 11152026 which was sold in Large and Small Chicken Boxes in November 2024 have been contacted. Any consumers who may still have the affected lot code are urged return it to their retailer for a full refund.
What does “non-negative” mean?
Non-negative is a technical laboratory term for results that are preliminary in nature. To determine infectiousness, further virus isolation testing is required.
Where was the affected product sold?
Colorado and Mountain territory: 24 Large Chicken Boxes & 18 Small Chicken Boxes
Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic territory: 30 Large Chicken Boxes
California, Arizona and Nevada: 54 Small Chicken Boxes
What are the safety measures Savage Pet is taking to address H5N1 in their products?
The USDA is responsible for keeping H5N1 out of the supply chain by testing flocks and culling any flock with a bird that tests positive. We source only USDA inspected and passed poultry slaughtered for human consumption.
What steps do you take for pathogen control in your processing?
We use ozone processing in our food and our facility. Ozone is the process of taking oxygen (O2) and turning it into O3, in which no pathogens can survive. Ozone is FDA-approved for meat processing and is also used in a wide variety of other industries such as hospitals, gyms and saunas due to its inactivation of salmonella, influenza, herpes, molds and more. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ranjit-Singh-36/publication/305399037_Ozone_Technology_in_Food_Processing_A_Review/links/578d118a08ae5c86c9a65391/Ozone-Technology-in-Food-Processing-A-Review.pdf
Additionally, all meat and eggs are received and processed in a controlled temperature (42°F) environment and frozen immediately after processing.
Are you testing the final product for H5N1?
There are no FDA-approved food commercially available lab tests available for H5N1. The USDA is responsible for keeping H5N1 out of the human-grade food chain at the living animal level. We have sent inquiries to our laboratory partners to let us know when a food test becomes available.
Can I cook your food?
You can lightly cook our food such as putting the packets in a sous vide at 165F for at least half an hour.