Facts, risks, and safety measures we (and you) should take to keep it at bay
TL;DR We take great care in our sourcing and cook our food to an internal temperature of 165°F, which instantly kills the virus and other pathogens—it’s actually called a “kill step” for this reason. This is supported by a boatload of research. We suggest weighing the facts and making choices that are the best for your family, while remaining open to new information and changing your behaviors should the situation evolve.
We will add updates to this post if necessary.
If you’ve been paying attention to the news and social media, suddenly it seems like Avian Flu is everywhere overnight. Depending on where you get your information, responses range from almost total denial to apocalyptic. As a company it has never been our policy to shame or fear monger around other forms of feeding. Evermore Co-Founder Hanna has been on countless podcasts and Facebook Lives explaining how raw feeding may be a good option for many pets and can be part of a rotational diet with Evermore. To better understand the risks and realities, it’s essential to look at the history, current situation, and practical steps that you can take to protect your family.
What is Avian Flu?
Avian influenza, or bird flu, is a contagious viral infection that primarily affects birds but can occasionally infect humans and other animals. The virus is classified into different subtypes based on two proteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The most concerning strains, like H5N1 and H7N9, can cause severe disease in birds and pose a risk to humans. Like other flus, H5N1 is airborne and can also be transmitted through surface contact. The first human death of H5N1 in the current outbreak was reported on January 6, 2024, underscoring the virus's potential seriousness.
Avian flu was first identified in the early 20th century and gained global attention in 1997, when an outbreak of H5N1 in Hong Kong resulted in human fatalities. The virus resurfaced in the 2000s, spreading through Asia, Europe, and Africa, largely driven by migratory wild birds and the poultry trade. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have occurred worldwide, often devastating poultry industries and occasionally infecting humans, almost all of whom had been in close contact with livestock.
The virus’s ability to mutate and mix with other flu strains in animals like pigs raises concerns about potential pandemics; in fact, more recent research indicates the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, which was responsible for over 50 million deaths worldwide, was an avian flu strain that originated when two separate virus strains mixed within a mammal, probably a pig. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) categorizes the current risk of avian flu to the general public as low but is keeping a close eye on the situation.
Avian Flu in Cats
As food manufacturers, we've been closely monitoring the H5N1 avian flu since its most recent US outbreak in 2022—which can be traced back to a 2020 gene-swapping event between wild birds and domestic poultry that was first identified in Europe and rapidly crossed the globe. While it occasionally made headlines, it largely stayed under the radar for the general public, except when it was linked to rising poultry and egg prices (often attributed to other causes). The current outbreak has now extended beyond poultry, and nearly 900 dairy herds across 16 states are currently under quarantine. There have already been two recalls from raw milk companies in California.
Over the past few weeks, quiet awareness turned into alarm as more and more reports emerged of cat deaths due to avian flu infection. While a wide range of mammals—including goats, foxes, badgers, and even dolphins—have been identified as contracting the disease, it turns out that cats are particularly vulnerable and have a high fatality rate. Furthermore, one recent study has shown that much like pigs, cats can be “mixing” vessels for the virus and can contribute to new mutations. So many of us share our lives and homes with these amazing creatures, so their high susceptibility increases the risk of new strains arising and infecting humans.
The first cat reports we heard were back in March of 2024, when H5N1 was discovered on dairy farms in Texas. Cats that had been drinking raw milk and colostrum began showing bizarre neurological symptoms and dying. Dozens of barn cats across the country began to suffer similarly as the virus spread. In a tragic turn of events, 20 large wild cats at a Washington sanctuary perished from the disease, which keepers believe may have been transmitted through their raw meat diets.
Then there are the pet cats: first, two in Southern California that were fed raw milk; next, three cats with no discernible cause; and finally, an indoor cat in Oregon linked to contaminated raw food. This led to a recall—and a flood of emails landing in our inbox. Since then, reports of cats infected with the H5N1 flu continue to surface.
Side note: We have been noticing posts on social media citing that the pH of cats’ stomachs is highly acidic (between 1% to 2.5%), and that this is strong enough to kill the virus. This may be true, but the avian flu is a respiratory virus and mammalian receptors for it are in the nose, throat, and lungs. Stomach acidity has absolutely no relevance here.
Avian Flu in Dogs
While it is also possible for dogs to contract H5N1, cases are historically rare, and dogs tend to handle the disease much better.
Sourcing
Of course, the best way to make sure that the H5N1 virus doesn’t make it into any food, cooked or raw, is to only use meat that does not come from infected animals. We’re in regular communication with our poultry supplier, Mary’s Chicken and Mary’s Turkey, which are owned by Pitman Family Farms. Here’s what they are doing on their end to protect their flocks and keep products from being contaminated:
Daily Testing: All flocks are tested daily for the H5N1 virus to ensure the safety of the poultry.
Exclusion of Affected Farms: If even a single bird on a partner farm tests positive, that farm is excluded from processing.
Routine Truck Disinfection: All trucks transporting birds, products, or cases are disinfected thoroughly to prevent contamination.
Restricted Plant Access: Outside trucks are not permitted inside the processing plant. Necessary delivery vehicles must follow strict decontamination protocols.
Hold-and-Release Policy: No product is released until test results confirm it is free from contamination.
We believe that everyone should source their birds from responsible, high-welfare suppliers like Mary’s. Apart from being cruel and environmentally devastating, factory farming is a major driver in the spread of zoonotic diseases like avian flu. That said, it’s important to note that state and federal responses and safeguards are now starting to be implemented across all commercially scaled USDA poultry operations, and testing is occurring nationwide. To help address these systemic issues, consider contacting your elected officials to advocate for stronger policies and funding to combat the spread of avian flu and other zoonotic diseases.
If you're buying commercial pet food—whether cooked or raw—we strongly recommend choosing a brand that uses human-grade ingredients. Look for companies that are transparent about the origins of their raw materials, at least down to the state level, so you can monitor any outbreak developments. You can use the USDA’s tracking dashboard to see confirmed commercial and backyard cases by state and county. It is updated daily and best viewed on a desktop device. It's also important to consider whether a company works directly with farmers or relies on middlemen. Direct relationships with vendors promote better communication and accountability. Now is the perfect time to dig deeper into the sourcing practices of your favorite brands, as websites often don't provide the full picture.
Food Safety Measures
As much as we love and trust Mary’s, we are also pragmatists, and realize that there is always the possibility that something can slip through the cracks, no matter how many precautions are taken. This is why we go to all of the lengths that we do to also ensure food safety on our end. According to the CDC, FDA, USDA, WHO, and other health organizations, the only validated way to kill this current strain of the circulating H5N1 virus is to cook to internal temperatures specifically recommended by protein that will kill common food pathogens like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria (e.g., 165°F for poultry, 145° for whole cuts of beef, etc.). In terms of raw milk, the only way to kill avian influenza is to pasteurize it (side note: don’t give cow dairy to cats, it's really not good for them). Eggs should be served fully cooked, as in scrambled or hardboiled. Whether or not you follow these guidelines is a personal choice.
The Evermore customer base includes a lot of immune-compromised and extremely sensitive pets. We have never taken chances with our food. Our practices include:
Strict Sanitation and Handling Procedures: Our USDA kitchen follows rigorous standards to ensure cleanliness and safety throughout the production process.
Sealed Packaging Before Cooking: Food is deposited and sealed into pouches prior to cooking, eliminating the possibility of cross-contamination in the finished product.
Cooking to Safe Temperatures: We cook all products, including our new cat food, to an internal temperature of 165°F to kill pathogens.
Manual Temperature Verification: Units throughout the steam ovens are manually probed with thermometers to ensure consistent and accurate cooking temperatures.
Comprehensive Pathogen Testing: Samples from each individual oven load are tested for pathogens, including: E. coli, salmonella, listeria, staphylococcus aureus, yeast, mold, total coliforms, and aerobic plate count (APC).
Hold-and-Release Policy: No product is released until test results come back clean.
Note: While an avian flu test is not currently available to companies like ours, if our food were to somehow not hit an appropriate kill step, it would show up in routine test results—we have 15 years of testing data to show what is normal for our product and have also tested it raw so we know what it looks like from a micro perspective pre-cook. Any notable discrepancies would trigger an investigation, and compromised food would never see the light of day.
On a Final Note
When it comes to avian flu, balancing personal comfort with risk tolerance is key. At Evermore, we understand that every pet guardian has their own approach to feeding and safety. While we’ve chosen to prioritize stringent cooking and sourcing practices to eliminate risks, we also recognize the value in different feeding methods. By staying informed and making decisions aligned with your comfort level, you can protect your loved ones while still providing the best care possible. At the end of the day, given the current state of affairs, it’s about weighing the facts and making choices that are the best for your family, while remaining open to new information and changing your behaviors should the situation evolve.