Influencing consumer acceptance
by Jennifer Adolphe, Pet Technical Services Manager, ADM, USA
Over 300 million dogs and cats are living in U.S., Mexican and Canadian households. With this expansive population of pets across North America, there is a growing need for responsibly sourced proteins that are suitable for canine and feline diets.Alternative proteins, such as those derived from insects like black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), are gaining popularity as a complementary or replacement ingredient to animal protein. Incorporating BSFL in pet products offers unique benefits for your furry friends and can be a resource friendly option for pet food production.
Exploring Novel Protein Sources
New product development for pet food, treats and supplements considers many factors. Pet brands must evaluate the nutrient composition of the ingredients, processing methods, palatability, regulatory status, ingredient inclusion levels, as well as the total formulation of the finished product. This is true for both traditional and novel ingredients.
Scientific research is vital in uncovering viable alternatives that can supplement or replace animal-derived ingredients in pet food products. For example, amino acid digestibility is important information when evaluating a novel ingredient. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and perform many critical functions in the body. An animal must be able to digest and use the amino acids in a protein source to ensure their essential amino acid requirements are met.
Protein can be procured from a variety of sources, including animal, plant, insect, microbial- and fermentation-derived ingredients. In the pet industry, a growing area of interest is the use of insect-based ingredients, particularly those derived from the black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens). Black soldier flies are powerful upcyclers. They efficiently turn low-quality feedstock into premium-quality ingredients, making them an environmentally conscious alternative source of amino acids and fatty acids for pet diets.
Innovafeed is a leading producer of black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) ingredients in the rapidly evolving space of insect proteins. Innovafeed’s Hilucia™ Protein and Oil contain unique components, including lauric acid, bioactive peptides and chitin. Lauric acid is a medium chain triglyceride, a fatty acid prevalent in coconut oil, and is being studied for its potential benefits. The black soldier fly expresses over 50 unique bioactive peptides, which are small proteins with distinct properties. Chitin acts as a dietary fiber to support digestive health. By combining the most advanced knowledge of Hermetia illucens’ nutritional properties with Innovafeed’s circular and zero-waste insect breeding model and expertise in ingredient formulation, Hilucia™ aims to help meet consumer demand for high-protein, sustainably sourced ingredients for pet foods, treats and supplements.
Science Behind the Solutions
ADM and Innovafeed have recently entered into an exclusive distributorship agreement for the pet food industry in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They also have a development agreement to explore the benefits of BSFL for dogs and cats, such as palatability studies and protein performance.
The premier study from this collaboration was performed at the University of Illinois with Dr Maria R. C. de Godoy, a leading researcher in the field of companion animal nutrition, to investigate the protein quality of BSFL in dogs. The goal was to determine if BSFL is a nutritious substitution for other commonly used protein ingredients in pet food. The research study included two feeding trials. First, three ingredients were evaluated: Hilucia™ Protein, whole powdered egg and chicken meal, to assess amino acid digestibility. A second trial was designed to evaluate macronutrient digestibility of Hilucia™ Protein in dog diets.
The first trial of de Godoy’s study measured the digestible indispensable amino acid score (DIAAS), a score based on amino acid digestibility that is used to assess protein quality. DIAAS values for Hilucia™ Protein were compared to scores for chicken meal, a high-quality, very common ingredient in pet food, and powdered egg, which is considered the gold standard for protein quality. Results demonstrate that Hilucia™ Protein is a suitable substitute for chicken meal in pet foods.
In the second trial, dog diets were specifically formulated for this research and included a controlled diet made with chicken meal, a diet that included 15 percent Hilucia™ Protein, and another test diet that included 30 percent Hilucia™ Protein. These levels represented using insect protein as a partial substitution for chicken meal and one that replaced chicken meal entirely. Findings indicate that all three diets were well accepted by the dogs and that the Hilucia™ Protein at both 15 percent and 30 percent inclusion was palatable. Additionally, all of the diets had average fecal scores between two and three, which is considered ideal. The University of Illinois researchers also noted that macronutrient digestibility values were very similar between the three diets, again suggesting that Hilucia™ Protein performs very similarly to chicken meal in dog diets.
“Research findings demonstrate that Hilucia™ Protein is a suitable and palatable substitute for chicken meal in dog diets, providing support for its potential use as a high-quality and responsibly produced ingredient in the pet food industry,” said Dr Maria R. C. de Godoy, Associate Professor at the Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois.
Influencing Consumer Acceptance
ADM and Innovafeed have also collaborated on a consumer study to glean pet parent perceptions of insect ingredients in pet food. Researchers hypothesized that there would be resistance amongst consumers to try insect-based pet food and they wanted to know how to overcome those hurdles through education.
Survey participants were U.S. pet owners who had at least one dog, at least one cat, or both. The survey opened by asking the participants how likely they were to feed their pet a food made with insect protein. Additional questions included some educational facts about insect ingredients, and at the end of the survey, the initial question was repeated.
Results suggest that with a bit of education, 42 percent of pet owners were more likely to feed their pet with insect protein. Nutrition is top priority, followed by ethical production. It is essential for pet food to be tasty and nutritious, but there are other attributes that could encourage pet owners to choose an insect-based pet food, such as transparency in product labeling and science-based ingredient inclusions. Plus, 50 percent of respondents said “all natural” is a desirable attribute.
The top-ranked wellness claims that are important to pet owners are high protein, digestive health and healthy aging. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of surveyed pet owners said having their top priorities met would increase their likelihood of serving pet food made with insect protein. Furthermore, after additional education, 35 percent of pet owners became comfortable or very comfortable with serving insect protein.
Sustainability in Pet Food Production
In the ever-changing world of pet nutrition, today’s pet owners are driven by various priorities and preferences, such as environmental impact, animal welfare and holistic pet wellbeing. Scientific research and consumer insights are key to unlocking the potential of alternative proteins in the pet nutrition sector. Indeed, growing awareness of the environmental and nutritional benefits of insect protein is helping to shift consumer perceptions and overcome initial hesitation to purchase pet products featuring these novel ingredients. Pet product developers can turn to ADM’s digital Pet Nutrition Institute to access a library of pet nutrition research and learn more about alternative protein options.
Pet Ownership Across North America
It’s estimated that over half of people worldwide have a pet in their home. Yet the environmental impact of pets is often overlooked.
Although pet ownership provides tremendous benefits for human well-being, the effect of a large pet population on natural resources and the food system needs to be considered. Notably, the environmental footprint of pet ownership varies significantly and is influenced by factors including their size, their numbers per household and their diets.
So what does that look like in North America?
Currently, 66 percent of U.S. households own a pet and 35 percent of Americans have more than one pet. In Canada, 77 percent of households own at least one type of pet. Mexico is ranked among the largest pet food markets globally and is the second biggest market in Latin America, only after Brazil.
As pet ownership continues to rise around the world, and pet food trends increasingly reflect human dietary habits, companion animals may further compound the environmental impacts of modern civilization. Collective efforts to reduce overfeeding, limit food waste and find alternative sources of protein will go a long way to help mitigate these impacts.
This Feature was published in the March 2024 Edition of International Petfood Magazine.
