FDA warns more Quest cat food lots may cause thiamine deficiency

The FDA is warning veterinarians and pet parents 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 of severe thiamine deficiency in cats eating certain frozen and freeze-dried Quest products, and that FDA testing found all eight lots fell far below the AAFCO minimum of 5.6 mg/kg on a dry matter basis. FDA also said it recommended a recall of all eight lots, but that only three had been recalled as of the advisory, even though the company had publicly said it was stopping sales of all Quest products. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is both a nutrition and client-communication issue. FDA says some cats showed signs within as little as one week, while others took months, with reported clinical signs ranging from decreased appetite and vomiting to cervical ventroflexion, ataxia, circling, seizures, and death if untreated. The agency said the issue first came to light after a veterinary neurologist reported a severely affected cat, underscoring how quickly a diet-associated deficiency can become a neurologic emergency when a food is fed as the sole ration. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether Go Raw expands its recall beyond the three lots already listed and whether FDA receives evidence that all affected Quest products have been removed from the market. (fda.gov)