AI-Confirmed Complete Recall of Cat Reproductive Food: "No AI Symptoms in Consumers or Cats"

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Conducts On-site Inspections and Comprehensive Testing of Raw Feed Manufacturers

On the 9th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it has completed the recall of distributed and sold products following the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in raw cat food on the 3rd. Surveillance of cats raised by consumers who purchased the affected products showed no abnormalities.

The Ministry contacted 286 consumers who purchased or received the products for free individually to guide them on the procedures for recalling, disposing of, and handling the feed. Products held by 239 consumers, excluding 47 who had already consumed all the problematic feed, were fully recalled. Local governments are currently carrying out disposal measures for the recalled products and plan to complete the disposal within this week.

Surveillance for clinical symptoms in cats raised by consumers who purchased or received the affected products showed no abnormalities. The relevant local governments will conduct regular surveillance for two weeks until the 16th.

If cats that consumed the feed show suspected symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza, such as loss of appetite and respiratory symptoms (difficulty breathing, dry cough, etc.), and are reported to livestock quarantine agencies, the local government’s livestock quarantine agencies can test for infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

To prevent similar cases, the Ministry is conducting inspections (from the 3rd to the 9th) on 14 companies manufacturing raw pet food using chicken, duck, and other meats to check compliance with sterilization and pasteurization processes. Alongside on-site inspections, a full collection and testing of pet raw food will be carried out by the 11th of this month. Additionally, the Ministry is investigating various infection routes, including raw materials supplied to the feed manufacturer, wild birds, and cat breeding facilities, to determine the cause of the outbreak.

Ahn Yong-deok, Director of the Quarantine Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "There have been no confirmed cases of cat-to-cat transmission worldwide, and especially for pets living together in households, the likelihood of contracting highly pathogenic avian influenza is low." He urged, "Please adhere to personal hygiene rules such as avoiding contact with carcasses and feces of wild birds and washing hands, and report immediately to livestock quarantine agencies if any suspicious symptoms appear."

(Photo) [Image source=Yonhap News]

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.