FDA warns on Quest cat food after low thiamine findings

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 nutrient for cats. In a March 13 advisory, the agency said it had received multiple consumer complaints, including a report from a veterinary neurologist, and that FDA testing found all eight lots it evaluated fell far below the AAFCO minimum thiamine level for cat food. The products include frozen and freeze-dried Quest formulas sold nationwide. FDA said it recommended a recall of all eight lots, but as of the advisory, the company had recalled only three lots, even after publicly stopping sales of all Quest products. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a nutrition-linked safety event with clear clinical relevance. FDA says affected cats may show early gastrointestinal signs such as decreased appetite and vomiting, then progress to neurologic signs including cervical ventroflexion, ataxia, circling, falling, seizures, and death if untreated. The agency also noted that some cats may become symptomatic within a week, while others may take months, which means diet history matters when cats present with compatible signs. Merck Veterinary Manual likewise notes that thiamine deficiency is most common in cats and can cause vestibular signs, ventroflexion, seizures, and death, with diagnosis supported by diet history and response to thiamine administration. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether Go Raw expands its recall beyond the three already recalled lots and whether FDA takes additional enforcement or communication steps on the remaining affected products. (fda.gov)