FDA warns on eight Quest cat food lots over thiamine risk

The FDA has escalated concerns around Steve’s Real Food’s Quest cat food line, warning on March 13, 2026 that eight tested lots of frozen and freeze-dried products contained extremely low, or no detectable, thiamine. The agency said it received multiple consumer complaints about severe thiamine deficiency in cats eating certain Quest diets, and traced the issue back in part to a report from a veterinary neurologist. FDA’s position is notable because it goes beyond the company’s existing recall activity: the agency said it recommended a recall of all eight affected lots, while Go Raw LLC had formally recalled only three at the time of the advisory. (fda.gov)

The company’s public actions began earlier. On February 17, 2026, Go Raw initiated a voluntary recall of one lot of Quest freeze-dried chicken cat food after testing suggested low thiamine. Then, on February 26, 2026, it expanded that recall to include two frozen chicken lots and announced a stop sale of all Quest products at retail while it investigated formulation specifications, ingredient suppliers, and processing procedures. In that company notice, Go Raw said replacement inventory was expected to begin reaching distribution channels around mid-March. (fda.gov)

What changed on March 13 was the scope and tone of the risk picture. FDA said all eight lots it tested contained thiamine levels well below the AAFCO minimum for cat food, with some showing no detectable thiamine at all. The products spanned more than chicken: the advisory identified affected frozen and freeze-dried formulas across chicken, pork, beef, and white fish varieties. FDA also said that although Steve’s Real Food had publicly stated it was stopping sale of all Quest cat food, the firm had not provided evidence showing the remaining affected lots had been removed from the market or that customers had been adequately notified about which products were implicated and what risks they posed. (fda.gov)

The regulatory tension here matters. A company stop sale or market withdrawal can reduce exposure, but it is not the same as a formal recall covering every affected lot. FDA’s advisory appears designed to close that gap by naming all FDA-tested lots and warning consumers directly. Trade coverage has also emphasized that disconnect, noting that the products carried nutritional adequacy statements saying they were formulated to meet AAFCO cat food nutrient profiles for all life stages, even though FDA testing found thiamine levels far below the 5.6 mg/kg minimum. (fda.gov)

For clinicians, the medical picture is straightforward but urgent. Thiamine deficiency in cats can begin with nonspecific gastrointestinal signs, including reduced appetite and vomiting, then progress to ventroflexion, weakness, ataxia, falling, circling, vision changes, seizures, and death if untreated. FDA said some cats may become symptomatic in as little as one week, while others may take months, depending on diet exposure and other factors. The agency also noted that when deficiency is recognized early, signs typically resolve after dietary correction and treatment. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is a reminder that “complete and balanced” label claims do not eliminate the need for a diet history, especially when pet parents are feeding raw, frozen, or freeze-dried products as the sole ration. Practices may want to ask specifically about Quest products in cats presenting with compatible neurologic or gastrointestinal signs, review whether clients still have packaging or lot codes, and encourage reporting through appropriate channels when suspected diet-associated illness is identified. The case also underscores a broader regulatory and trust issue in companion animal nutrition: when FDA testing and company recall scope diverge, clinics often become the front line for interpreting risk for pet parents. (fda.gov)

Expert commentary directly attributable to named veterinarians was limited in publicly accessible coverage beyond FDA’s reference to a veterinary neurologist report, but industry reporting has framed the event as a significant nutrient-deficiency failure rather than a minor labeling issue. That distinction is important because thiamine deficiency is clinically consequential, potentially rapid in onset, and especially serious in cats, which FDA notes require about four times more thiamine in their diets than dogs. (fda.gov)

What to watch: The next key development is whether Go Raw formally expands its recall to all eight FDA-identified lots, or provides FDA with evidence that the non-recalled lots were effectively removed from commerce and that pet parents were adequately notified. Veterinary professionals should also watch for any additional FDA enforcement updates, adverse event reporting trends, or company disclosures on root cause and corrective actions. (fda.gov)