FDA Reminder: Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1 in Food Safety Plans

**CVM is sharing these announcements because these products may be used in veterinary settings.**

During the fall migratory season, H5N1 detections typically increase throughout the United States in wild birds, with potential spread to commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Given this seasonal pattern, the FDA is reissuing its CVM Update, Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1 in Food Safety Plans, to remind pet food manufacturers that H5N1 represents a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard when using certain ingredients.

For cat and dog food manufacturers sourcing poultry ingredients, including from USDA-FSIS regulated facilities, USDA-APHIS recently issued a updated policy document including new recommendations on pre-slaughter surveillance that may be helpful in evaluating suppliers: HPAI Response: Policy for Enhanced Pre-Slaughter Surveillance of Meat-Producing Poultry Flocks in Affected States Located Outside of Active Control Areas.

For the full CVM Update, which was originally issued in January 2025, please visit: Cat and Dog Food Manufacturers Required to Consider H5N1 in Food Safety Plans.

You are subscribed to updates from FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine.