Dear RAWR Family,
The short version? Not much!
As many of you know, the FDA recently investigated two batches of RAWR cat food, concerned that they might contain H5N1 (Avian Flu). Right now, raw food is the specific focus of all Avian Flu–related investigations. If a cat becomes ill with what appears to be H5N1, an investigation is only triggered if that cat was on a raw food diet.
As a lifelong raw-feeding advocate, I’ll admit this approach is both upsetting and confusing — but that’s a conversation for another day. What matters here is that we fully cooperated with the FDA throughout the process and maintained transparency every step of the way.
During the investigation, we re-verified all our sourcing, testing, and production records. I repeatedly requested information from the FDA about their own testing, chain of custody, and details regarding the sick cat that reportedly ate our food. Each time, I was told they couldn’t email me anything — that the only way to receive information was on a call with 15 FDA employees, and that none of it was “formalized” in a way they could share in writing.
Are you scratching your head yet?
I made it clear that a call with fifteen people and no documentation wasn’t feasible. They advised me to submit a FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) request instead — which I did at the end of August. As of today, I still haven’t received a single document in response.
Through all of this, one thing became clear: the FDA wanted a recall, yet they refused to perform the only type of testing that could confirm whether H5N1 was actually present in our food — and, more importantly, whether it was viable. As a manufacturer, we don’t have access to this type of testing.
I had already placed all remaining product from those lot codes on hold, though nearly everything had already been sold and consumed — with no other complaints or reports of illness. Still, the FDA continued to press for a recall. Out of an abundance of caution, I told them I would agree — if they also recalled all raw pet food products from every manufacturer that was made with the same raw materials used in the 2 RAWR batches in question. After all, if this was truly a public safety issue, shouldn’t we ensure all potentially affected meat was removed from circulation, not just the 2 lot codes from RAWR?
The FDA’s response to my email? 5 short words “Thank you for your response.”
No recall was required or pushed again. No further action was taken regarding RAWR.
What hasn’t changed is our unwavering commitment to safety, transparency, and the wellbeing of your cats. We continue to source from USDA-inspected, NPIP & GAP-certified farms, maintain strict temperature controls, and track every lot from farm to bowl.
The H5N1 news cycle has understandably caused concern. As both a cat mom and RAWR’s founder, I believe you deserve clarity — not speculation. Our promise remains the same: clean, traceable, species-appropriate nutrition made with integrity. Bird flu isn’t going away anytime soon, so the best path forward is awareness, collaboration, and nutrition that supports strong immune systems.
If you’d like to learn more, tune in on November 11th at 5pm ET to Back In the Closet Podcast with The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, where I’ll be discussing the ins and outs of bird flu, what it means for raw feeding, and how the FDA is approaching this evolving issue.
Thank you for trusting us to nourish your cats and for standing by us as we continue to hold ourselves to the highest possible standard.
With gratitude,
Sabrina Simmons
Founder, RAWR