01/02/2025
Dear Valued Customers,
With the recent discussion related to H5N1 Avian influenza in Alberta, according to agriculture of Alberta, Based on information to date, the risk to the public from the current strains of avian influenza (H5N1) circulating in birds in North America remains low.
We feel confident in accepting our Chicken and Turkey products from Sunrise Farms which have Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) certification and are federally regulated by the Canadian food inspection agency (CFIA) and BRC. Producers and veterinarians must be familiar with the clinical signs of the disease to detect avian flu early. Early detection helps ensure a quick response – which, in turn, helps minimize the spread of the virus and the economic damage to the industry.
Essentially by the time the birds have been processed and distributed from the federally inspected plant, and delivered to our raw dog food processing center, which then is ground and flash frozen which minimizes the risk of bacterial and virus growth. By the time the food is ready to be sold approximately a week later, any reports of illness would have been received and products can then be removed from the shelves if required.
At this time, we ask that our raw food is not fed to cats. We will stop producing cat blend till further notice. It is recommended that cats have canned or kibble which is fully cooked to mitigate risk of infection.
In addition to this influenza discussion, we have added additional measures of sanitation process and are considering adding a UV light therapy to our production process to further reduce possible risks.
We also encourage those who are purchasing the products to ensure the bags are kept out of the sun, kept frozen in a freezer with a minimum temperature of minus 20 degrees, and the blocks are only thawed when in a fridge one day at a time.
We do value your support and loyalty and appreciate any feed back, suggestions, and commendations.
Our apologizes for any inconvenience this causes, we want to work together with you to ensure our pets well-being and longevity of our partnerships.
Sincerely,
Valentin & Nicole
Cornerstone Meat & Bone
