WACKER has entered the European Union petfood additives market with its fermentation-based L-cysteine and L-cystine solutions, following European Commission approval of the amino acids as sensory additives for all animal species. The approval allows the German company to expand the use of its FERMOPURE® portfolio in European petfood applications.
Ingredients and their use in petfood
WACKER’s FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE and FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE are plant-based ingredients that can act as flavour precursors and flavour components. During processing, they react with reducing sugars through the Maillard reaction to generate characteristic meaty and savoury flavours. The company said the solutions can help improve the palatability of petfood, including formulations containing nutritionally valuable but less appealing ingredients. They can be used in liquids, chewable products, tablets and powders, and remain effective at low doses.
The regulatory approval follows a positive safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), giving manufacturers a defined framework for using the FERMOPURE® products across animal species. The approval covers FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE PET FOOD and several FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE PET FOOD variants, including L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate, L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 20 mesh, L-cysteine hydrochloride anhydrous, and L-cysteine free base.
Plant-based fermentation
WACKER produces FERMOPURE® through fermentation using plant-based glucose. It produces L-cystine with a production strain of E. coli, followed by purification. For L-cysteine, the company then converts L-cystine through electrolysis. WACKER said the process avoids animal-based raw materials and provides an alternative to conventionally sourced L-cysteine.
Christian Hauk, Head of BioIngredients at WACKER’s Biosolutions business division, said,“With the new EU approval, we are expanding our range of petfood products in Europe to include amino acids produced through fermentation.” Further, added that this ensures that their customers receive products made from plant-based raw materials that are of the highest quality and fully traceable.
WACKER has supplied ingredients to the US petfood market for more than 10 years. It said the approval positions it as the only manufacturer of L-cysteine derived from biotechnologically produced cystine currently approved by the EU as a feed additive.
The move comes as the global petfood and treats market was valued at US$145.2 billion in 2025. WACKER cited Global Market Insights data forecasting growth from US$152.1 billion in 2026 to US$259 billion by 2035. The European market was valued at US$43.2 billion in 2025, with demand supported by growing pet ownership and interest in functional and natural petfood.
