FDA warns eight Quest cat food lots may cause thiamine deficiency

The FDA is warning that eight lots of Quest Cat Food, marketed by Go Raw LLC doing business as Steve’s Real Food, contain extremely low or no thiamine, an essential vitamin for cats. The agency said on March 13, 2026, that it had received multiple consumer complaints, including a report from a veterinary neurologist, and that FDA testing found all eight lots it examined fell far below the AAFCO minimum thiamine level of 5.6 mg/kg, with some lots showing no detectable thiamine at all. Go Raw previously recalled one freeze-dried chicken lot on February 17, 2026, then expanded that recall on February 26 to include two frozen chicken lots and said it would stop sale of all Quest products, but the FDA says only three of the eight tested lots have been formally recalled so far. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is both a nutrition and client-communication issue. Cats can develop thiamine deficiency after eating a deficient diet, with early signs including decreased appetite and vomiting, and more advanced cases progressing to cervical ventroflexion, weakness, ataxia, circling, and seizures. The FDA says some cats may show signs within as little as one week, while others may take months, which means clinicians may need to ask specifically about diet history in cats presenting with vague GI or neurologic signs, especially if pet parents are feeding raw frozen or freeze-dried Quest products. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether Go Raw expands its formal recall to all FDA-identified lots, and whether the company provides evidence to regulators that affected products have been fully removed from the market. (fda.gov)