Is Insect Protein Pet Food the Next Big Thing?

You may feed your dog or cat a pet food that contains chicken, beef or salmon…some diets even feature exotic novel proteins like wild boar or kangaroo. But would you feed your dog or cat fly larvae, mealworms, or crickets? The concept might not be as wild as you think.

When shopping for pet food, you may start to notice insect-based protein recipes as an option. Some of these are boutique brands that specialize in insect foods, but big manufacturers, including Mars, Nestle and Tyson Foods, are also hopping on board. Pet food manufacturers cite a variety of reasons why insects are worming their way into pet food recipes. Many say it’s a way to reduce the carbon footprint of feeding a pet (1), as insects use less natural resources to manufacture (less land and water and emit less greenhouse gasses). 

Whether you’re on board or not, insect pet food is gaining traction. Investors put $76.77 million into insect-based food companies in 2022 and $14.92 million in 2023, with Mark Cuban and Robert Downey Jr. reportedly being among the funders.

We asked a veterinarian about the pros and cons of insect protein pet food.

Is insect-based food good for pets?

“Although research regarding insect diets is still ongoing, these diets can be a viable option for pet owners,” says Dr. Rhiannon Koehler, a veterinarian in Overland Park, Kansas. For example, they could be beneficial for pets with certain food allergies or intolerances (though risk of cross-contamination of commercial diets is still possible).

“Insect-based pet foods can provide a pet’s required nutrients while avoiding some of the protein sources that often trigger allergies in pets, such as chicken and beef,” Dr. Koeheler says, 

Alternative proteins may also appeal to pet parents who are concerned with climate change and sustainability. 

And while eating bugs may sound weird, it’s not as odd as you think. “Eating insects is normal for people in different countries around the world,” Dr. Koehler says. Some statistics suggest that up to 80 percent of countries around the world eat insects, including crickets and grasshoppers. “And the chances are that your pet is eating bugs pretty regularly on their own!” Dr. Koehler adds. 

What are the cons to insect protein dog food or cat food?

The primary component of the exoskeleton in insects, known as chitin, may not be easily digestible by pets (2), so it has to be at least partially removed in the pet food manufacturing process.

And more research is still needed to determine risk of food allergies with insect-based diets, Dr. Koehler says. For example, one study found that dogs who are allergic to mites could have reactions to mealworms (3). “Insects can become contaminated with infectious organisms and heavy metals,” Dr. Koehler adds, “so more information is also needed regarding potential hazards of these diets.”

Many pet parents also have an aversion to feeding insects to their pets, so this currently limits the widespread use of this type of alternative protein diet, Dr. Koehler says.

No matter what type of diet you choose to feed, Dr. Koehler stresses the importance of making sure it meets the requirements of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to ensure it is nutritionally complete and balanced for your pet’s life stage. At this time, the AAFCO stamp of “approval” on insect-based diets is limited, Dr. Koehler says. 

As always, talk to your veterinarian before switching your pet’s diet or introducing new proteins like insects. In the meantime, keep your eye on those pet food shelves — they are about to get a lot more exotic!  

References

1. Smetana, Sergiy et al. “Environmental impact potential of insect production chains for food and feed in Europe.” Animal frontiers : the review magazine of animal agriculture vol. 13,4 112-120. 14 Aug. 2023, doi:10.1093/af/vfad033
2. Stull, Valerie J, and Tiffany L Weir. “Chitin and omega-3 fatty acids in edible insects have underexplored benefits for the gut microbiome and human health.” Nature food vol. 4,4 (2023): 283-287. doi:10.1038/s43016-023-00728-7
3. Premrov Bajuk, Blanka et al. “Insect Protein-Based Diet as Potential Risk of Allergy in Dogs.” Animals : an open access journal from MDPI vol. 11,7 1942. 29 Jun. 2021, doi:10.3390/ani11071942