This article was published in the March/April 2025 issue of Pet Food Processing. Read it and other articles from this issue in our March/April digital edition.
In 2017, a study in PLOS ONE claimed that US cats and dogs are responsible for 25% to 30% of the environmental impact of global meat consumption, and that if these pets were their own country, their meat consumption would rank fifth in the world. This statistic has hung over the industry, leading to renewed interest in novel protein sources to help continue feeding our four-legged companions while significantly reducing their “pawprint.” Soon after, insect proteins came under the spotlight.
These proteins can be developed from numerous insect species, including black soldier fly larvae (BSFL), crickets and mealworms, and seem to tick all the boxes for the pet food industry. However, because these ingredients differ from traditional protein sources like chicken and beef, formulating with them requires special considerations, from understanding nutrient levels to overcoming negative consumer perception.
Bühler’s Market Segment Insect Technology provides solutions for insect protein producers to efficiently and safely process BSFL and mealworms into sustainable, nutrient-rich ingredients.
|“When developing our insect-based formulas, we faced significant skepticism about using insects as a protein source for dogs, despite insects being a natural part of wild canine diets,” shared Anne Carlson, founder and chief executive officer of Berkeley, Calif.-based Jiminy’s. “Our biggest challenge was proving that insect protein was not only safe but nutritionally beneficial and digestible for dogs.”
Nutrient powerhouse
Among their multitude of benefits, insects have proven to be incredibly rich in nutrients. Currently, the most common insect species used to create protein are BSFL, mealworms and crickets.
“Protein meal derived from BSFL and mealworms combine the benefits of other animal-based protein sources in terms of the overall protein content (55% to 60% on dry matter basis) and a balanced amino acid profile, while having a much lower environmental impact,” explained Nicolas Braun, business development manager, Market Segment Insect Technology, Bühler, Uzwil, Switzerland. “Due to the facts that these insects are locally produced, being fed on organic byproducts and often farmed in a vertical set-up, insect protein uses considerably less land and less water per ton of protein compared to plant-based protein sources such as soy.”
BSFL is by far the most popular insect-based protein alternative due to this species’ inherent ability to transform low-quality food into premium ingredients. Innovafeed, Paris, specifically uses this insect to create its ingredients for pet food applications.
Innovafeed uses black soldier fly larvae to create its insect ingredients. The company’s Hilucia brand offers insect protein and oil for application in pet nutrition.
|“The BSFL is the most powerful upcycler out there, they can efficiently turn low quality feedstock into premium ingredients,” revealed Solène Dattin, market development manager of North America at Innovafeed. “They also offer many advantages at scale, including having a high feed efficiency, being optimized for high density vertical farming, having a very short lifespan compared to other farmed insects, and being silent and non-invasive.”
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Overland Park, Kan., uses BSFL protein in its Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin dry food for dogs. By using this insect species, the food is specifically designed to support digestibility and skin health.
“This insect protein is high in dietary fiber, making it both a protein and fiber source to the overall recipe,” said Adam Craig, director of product development, Hill’s.
Tenebrio molitor mealworms are another great option, as this insect species is naturally rich in protein and good quality fat. Ÿnsect, Paris, offers ingredients made with mealworms through its brand Sprÿng. Ingredients include: Protein70, a defatted mealworm meal; WetPro15, whole ground frozen mealworms; Hydrolysate15, a dry and liquid protein hydrolysate from mealworms; and Oil6-9, oil extracted from mealworms.
“The ingredients we produce are characterized by their high protein content (up to 70% for our dry product) with all essential amino acids, an exceptional digestibility, low ash and low unsaturated fat content,” explained Alice Pabst-Landon, marketing director of Ÿnsect. “With their unique nutritional profile, our mealworms provide a natural source of alternative protein, fiber, minerals and essential fatty acids (Omegas 3, 6 and 9).”
Ÿnsect uses the Tenebrio molitor mealworm to create its ingredients. Its Sprÿng brand offers several ingredients, including protein, for use in pet food products.
|As well as serving as complete protein alternatives, these insects carry additional nutritional benefits. For example, BSFL have been shown to have antimicrobial properties, which Innovafeed utilizes through its Hilucia protein. This ingredient is rich in prebiotics and bioactive compounds and contains more than 50 antimicrobial peptides.
“Hilucia ingredients also offer multiple functional benefits like oral health, they are good for sensitivities, offer improved fecal scores, etc.,” Dattin said.
Similarly to BSFL, mealworms serve as a hypoallergenic protein, meaning they are less likely to trigger an allergic reaction in pets, therefore, making it a great protein source for more sensitive pets. According to Pabst-Landon, Ÿnsect’s mealworms are great for these pets, as well as those suffering from digestive issues or excess weight.
“Studies show that they have a hypoallergenic effect, particularly due to the innovative nature of the products and significantly reduce skin diseases in dogs; enhance pet food digestibility thanks to an 86% pepsin digestibility; and are protein rich and low fat, enabling weight management pet food formulation,” she explained.
And another option is cricket. Jiminy’s uses cricket protein in its Cravin’ Cricket Dog Food, as well as BSFL protein in its Good Grub Dog Food. The company also offers Crunchy Treats and Chewy Training Treats made with cricket and Dental Chews made with BSFL.
“Our insect proteins deliver exceptional nutrition with higher concentrations of B vitamins, essential amino acids, medium-chain fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants than traditional proteins,” Carlson detailed. “This nutritional profile supports brain development, joint health and immune function. The novel protein source is ideal for dogs with food sensitivities since it hasn’t been overexposed in pet diets and is naturally free from common allergens.”
Formulation flexibility
With clear nutritional and health benefits, it’s no wonder why insects have become the answer for pet food formulators, however, the novel nature of these proteins begs the question: how do they rank formulation-wise? Fortunately, the nutritional composition of insect-based proteins is quite similar to more traditional sources, making these sustainable proteins an easier replacement than one would think.
“Insect ingredients… are very versatile and can easily fit into formulations in replacement to other ingredients,” said Fernando Roberti of Innovafeed.
“Insect ingredients, notably those from BSFL, are very versatile and can easily fit into formulations in replacement to other ingredients,” shared Fernando Roberti, pet food technical sales manager and veterinarian (Europe), Innovafeed. “Its nutritional composition is comparable to other ingredients used in pet food formulations and adjustments for protein and fiber might be required.”
Additionally, according to Roberti, the nutritional value of Innovafeed’s insect ingredients remain intact throughout heat-extensive processes like extrusion and retorting.
When it comes to the Tenebrio molitor mealworm, Ÿnsect’s key ingredients are designed to be used in the same way as comparable ingredients. The company’s WetPro15, whole ground frozen mealworms, touts similar binding properties compared to traditional mechanically deboned meat (MDM). To test this, the company partially replaced MDM chicken with a portion of WetPro15 in a pâté pet food.
“In every case, the pâté exhibited good binding properties, with the pâtés containing WetPro15 being slightly more homogeneous, compact and softer than the reference pâté,” Pabst-Landon revealed. “These properties help to optimize the production and minimize waste… By including WetPro15 in their formulations, manufacturers can expand their portfolio of high-quality products with minimal modifications to existing processes.”
Insects also lend themselves well to taste and overall palatability. Ÿnsect’s mealworm ingredients are odorless and offer a neutral taste, making it easier for pet food formulators to incorporate into their products, according to Pabst-Landon. And Innovafeed’s BSFL ingredients contain a nutty taste and aroma that pets enjoy, according to Dattin.
Realizing the nutritional and health benefits of BSFL, Hill’s Pet Nutrition has incorporated the insect protein into its Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin dog food.
|To understand how insects affect palatability, Hill’s leveraged its research capabilities through its Global Pet Nutrition Center.
“We spend a lot of time selecting the best combination of ingredients to pair with a new ingredient, such as insect protein, to deliver optimal health and pet enjoyment,” said Nick Rozzi, Ph.D., vice president of product development, Hill’s.
Jiminy’s also performed its own research with Carlson feeding her dogs crickets as an initial test for the company’s formulas.
“Our products have consistently scored exceptionally well in acceptance tests, and we’ve even performed direct side-by-side comparisons against leading brands where our insect-based products performed remarkably well,” she revealed. “The natural flavor profile of insect proteins, combined with our careful formula development, ensures that pets find our products not just acceptable but genuinely delicious.”
Breaking barriers
Despite their inherent environmental benefits, great nutritional content and high palatability, insect protein production is still a novel business with few industrial-scale producers, Braun explained. This means availability is limited.
“Linked to the limited availability is also the price premium that pet food producers currently need to pay for high-quality insect protein,” he added.
To address this, Roberti recommends processors incorporate insect proteins in more premium formulations.
“As insect ingredient producers are ramping up their productions, prices for their ingredients tend to fall in the premium category, so formulators might want to consider including these ingredients in their premium portfolio,” he explained.
Also, a formula’s entire protein source doesn’t need to be insects. For example, Hill’s Sensitive Stomach & Skin formula pairs BSFL with MSC-certified Alaskan Pollock, resulting in a dog food that provides easily digestible protein and Omega 3 fatty acids for health benefits. By pairing insect proteins with animal-based proteins, processors can ensure a formula is complete-and-balanced, palatable and functional, while also reaping environmental benefits.
Often the biggest challenge when it comes to insect-based ingredients is consumer perception, called the “ick factor.” Despite a pet’s natural instinct to consume insects, the super-humanization of pets has made many pet parents hesitant about feeding insects, as they are unlikely to consume insects themselves. Jiminy’s and Hill’s are currently tackling this with success.
“We recognized early that selling insect-based products for human consumption faced significant psychological barriers, but dogs don’t share these cultural hangups — they simply respond to taste and nutrition,” Carlson said.
Though pets are the ultimate end consumers and have no hesitancy in eating insects, it’s pet owners that brands must appeal to. With this in mind, Hill’s highlights its commitment to pet health and science-based nutrition in its messaging to consumers.
“Over the last few years, there has been a growing consumer demand for more sustainable pet food options,” Craig said. “With this, however, there can be misconceptions about certain ingredients. At Hill’s, we will continue to innovate and explore more sustainable protein sources, like insect proteins, while providing clear communication and education about these ingredients.”
These efforts aren’t in vain. According to Rozzi, Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin formulas have experienced positive consumer feedback and were even recognized by the Newsweek Best New Products Awards in 2024.
“The success of these formulas demonstrates a growing consumer acceptance of sustainably sourced proteins, including insect-based ingredients,” he shared.
Jiminy’s focuses on communicating the health benefits of these ingredients to consumers, as opposed to focusing on their source.
“We leverage scientific evidence to demonstrate how insect protein is a fantastic alternative for dogs with allergies or gut issues, making it easier for pet parents to overcome their personal discomfort,” said Anne Carlson of Jiminy’s.
“We highlight how the exceptional nutrition, sustainability and allergy-friendly properties outweigh any initial consumer hesitation,” Carlson explained. “We leverage scientific evidence to demonstrate how insect protein is a fantastic alternative for dogs with allergies or gut issues, making it easier for pet parents to overcome their personal discomfort.”
To help prove the nutritional value and safety of its insect-based formulas, Jiminy’s invested heavily in scientific research, partnering with Iowa State University, AnimalBiome, Entomo, Wenger, Aspire and Summit Ridge to demonstrate that cricket protein is a complete protein, dogs digest it as effectively as beef or chicken, and the natural fiber serves as a prebiotic to support the gut microbiome.
As pet owners become more educated on these insects and their benefits to pets, overall interest in insect-based pet food has continued to rise. According to a 2024 study in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 62% of cat owners and 52% of dog owners expressed positive attitudes toward insect-based pet food. Though brands must battle the “ick factor,” consumer perception toward insects is expected to improve as consumers seek out more sustainable pet foods that offer health benefits and support the environment.
Read more about insect-based ingredients in the pet nutrition space.
