German retailer Edeka has launched a new range of wet dog and cat food made using meat and animal by-products from Category 3 animal husbandry under Germany’s Haltungsform labelling system.
The initiative aims to promote higher animal welfare standards within the petfood sector while increasing value creation across the production chain through the use of meat by-products.
Husbandry classification
The Haltungsform classification system is used in Germany to indicate farming and animal welfare standards for meat products. Category 3 represents higher animal welfare standards than the statutory minimum requirements, providing animals with more space and access to outdoor areas.
The initiative also supports the use of whole animals, helping to increase value throughout the production chain and improve resource efficiency without compromising quality or animal welfare. The meat by-products used in the new range are sourced from Edeka’s own branded meat programmes and originate from German farms.
Edeka said it hopes the initiative will encourage other companies within the petfood sector to adopt similar approaches.
Product launch
The new products were launched earlier this month under Edeka’s Herzstücke brand. The initial range comprises four 400g canned products: two cat food recipes, available in pork and beef, and two dog food recipes, also available in pork and beef, all produced using ingredients from higher animal welfare systems.
The products are available in selected Edeka stores across southern and western Germany, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Saarland. Edeka plans to expand the range further, subject to consumer demand and product availability.