The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that petfood manufacturers update their safety plans to address the risks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1). This new requirement affects companies that produce petfood using uncooked or unpasteurized ingredients, such as meat, milk, and eggs, sourced from poultry or cattle.
The update follows recent reports of H5N1 cases in domestic and wild cats across states like California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado, which were linked to contaminated food products. While H5N1 can cause severe illness or death in cats, dogs are generally less affected.
Under the FDA’s Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) rule, manufacturers are obligated to identify and assess hazards in their food safety plans. The FDA has classified H5N1 as a foreseeable hazard for petfood companies using certain raw ingredients. The reanalysis aims to incorporate new scientific findings and reduce the risk of H5N1 transmission through petfood.
To mitigate these risks, the FDA recommends that manufacturers source ingredients from healthy animals, implement heat treatments to kill the virus, and establish supply-chain controls to ensure contamination-free products.
Petfood businesses are urged to update their safety plans promptly to comply with these guidelines, as the FDA emphasizes the importance of collaboration between government, industry, and consumers in addressing the H5N1 threat.
