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.
The report estimated that dog and cat food sales stood at US$51.7 billion in 2024, representing 9.8 million tons (see Figure 1) of over 600 nutritious plant-and animal-based ingredients.
