The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) partners with a national network of veterinary labs “to advance the CVM mission of protecting human and animal health”, the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network – known as Vet-LIRN.
These partner laboratories…
…are not federal laboratories (not directly part of FDA), they only partner with the FDA CVM to assist in pet food/animal feed investigations.
Each of these partner laboratories also perform laboratory analysis on their own – for the public (pet owners) or industry.
However, we have been informed that the FDA has recently prohibited all Vet-LIRN laboratories from performing Avian Flu virus isolation on pet foods.
What is virus isolation testing?
Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center states: “Virus Isolation is a highly relevant and important testing method used assist in the diagnosis of viral infections, including those of emerging, re-emerging, and novel viral pathogens.”
Virus isolation testing confirms the presence of a live virus; it is the ONLY test that a pet food manufacturer could use to assure pet owners their pet food is free of the virus.
Just as with any pathogen, proper testing is key to prevention.
But…FDA CVM has directly prohibited that prevention.
TruthaboutPetFood.com was informed by a Vet-LIRN lab that FDA has “restricted” them from performing HPAI (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza) virus isolation testing on pet foods. TAPF was told the labs have the capacity to perform the important testing, BUT “we are not allowed”.
(Note: we are choosing to protect the identity of this lab.)
To confirm what we were told by the lab, TruthaboutPetFood.com sent questions to FDA CVM on March 13, 17, and 20, 2025 – asking why the agency has restricted Vet-LIRN labs from performing virus isolation testing on pet food for the public or pet food manufacturers. All emails have been ignored.
No response from FDA CVM speaks volumes. (Opinion: no response confirms what the lab told us.)
Why? Why would FDA CVM “restrict” pet food manufacturers from testing their products in order to protect pets?
We cannot speak for the FDA CVM. But we firmly believe that because pet food manufacturers are restricted from testing their products – restricted solely by the FDA CVM – should any other pets die from Avian Flu, FDA should be held responsible.
One more issue…
The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is the federal agency that holds responsibility of controlling Avian Flu in the US.
The USDA tells consumers (bold added for emphasis):
“Q. How can USDA assure consumers that avian influenza infected meat will not enter the food supply?
A. The chance of infected poultry entering the food chain is extremely low. As part of the USDA highly pathogenic avian influenza response plan, infected birds do not enter the food supply. Additionally, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service inspection program personnel are assigned to every federally inspected meat, poultry and egg product plant in America. All poultry products for public consumption are inspected for signs of disease both before and after slaughter. The ‘inspected for wholesomeness by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’ seal ensures the poultry is free from visible signs of disease.“
When a pet food manufacturer purchases meat that has been USDA inspected and passed, they are told the USDA seal assures the product is clean/free of Avian Flu. Recent recalls have evidenced that the USDA has failed to provide that assurance.
Wild Coast and Savage – the two companies that have experienced a recall of pet food due to Avian Flu – both sourced USDA inspected and passed meats…human grade meats the USDA claimed to be free of disease.
But…if a manufacturer wanted to double check the USDA and have their own testing performed to assure the meat is free of Avian Flu, the USDA laboratory (National Veterinary Services Lab) also refuses to test pet food for the public or the pet food industry (we asked and were told this lab only tests for regulatory).
The USDA and more significantly the FDA have shut down – “restricted” – the ability for pet food manufacturers to assure their products or raw materials are free of Avian Flu. Prevention is impossible without the ability to test.
Personal Opinion: I do not understand why mainstream media is not catching on/reporting on Avian Flu is confirmed to be in the human food chain. A leaky package of chicken placed on the counter of your home could spread the virus to your cat or immune compromised individuals.
I do not understand why the USDA – when testing confirmed Avian Flu was present in USDA inspected and passed meats used in these pet foods – did not issue a public warning, did not (to our knowledge) perform a full inspection at the poultry supplier(s).
The problem could be regulatory jurisdiction.
USDA’s jurisdiction is meat – this agency oversees all meat products and all foods that contain more than 3% meat (excluding pet food).
FDA’s jurisdiction is pet food (among other things), but NOT suppliers of pet food ingredients.
Is USDA ignoring the confirmed Avian Flu testing of pet food, because pet food is not their jurisdiction? Is FDA not properly communicating with USDA of positive Avian Flu test results of pet foods made with inspected and passed meats because human grade meat is not their jurisdiction?
Something is VERY wrong – with all of this.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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