By understanding ingredients, we can create Nutrition that Shines™

When you think of pet food ingredients what comes to mind? Probably beef or chicken, maybe “white fish” for cats? These have been staple ingredients for most pet foods brands in recent memory. However, health-conscious pet parents and the super-premium brands they support have become increasingly interested in unique, sustainable proteins, such as, tilapia, green beans, millet and more recently, insect meal.

With alternative proteins increasing in popularity in human foods, they are also gaining interest from consumers of pet food, and black soldier fly (BSF)-based ingredients are among the most popular.

Bacteria produce putrescine and cadaverine as the microbes devour amino acids in putrefied cadavers, spoiled meat or other decaying proteins.

Three factors can stand in the way of acceptance of plant-based proteins as pet food ingredients. Dog and cat owners won't sacrifice taste and texture for their pets when converting to plant-based products.

Researchers at Massey University observed distinct differences among cats’ preference for various raw organ meats and co-products from cows and lambs. Likewise, raw ingredients from lamb and beef had different palatability.