The ingredients powering the US pet food industry

The pet food industry continues to grow, with ingredients playing a vital role in the industry’s evolution.

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Lara Moody
December 10, 2025
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When you think of the pet food industry, you might not immediately consider the wide array of ingredients that go into creating a complete and balanced meal. From chicken and salmon to cranberries and peas, the variety is as distinctive and diverse as the pets we feed. The Institute for Feed Education and Research (IFEEDER), in partnership with American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), North American Renderers Association (NARA) research arm the Fats and Proteins Research Foundation (FPRF) and the Pet Food Institute (PFI), released a report in April 2025 quantifying the hundreds of safe ingredients used in dog and cat food diets.

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