Alternative proteins: A bowlful of opportunities and challenges

Mind the protein gap

Growing global demand for food combined with consumer concerns around sustainability and animal welfare are driving the development of alternative proteins derived from novel sources like plant-based, algae, insects, mycoprotein and cultured meat for human consumption.

And, following the humanisation trend, as with humans, so also for pets. The humanisation of pet food is visible in human preferences, for example, for organic, free-range, or vegetarian food, human food safety management systems and human food ingredients.

However, when it comes to implementing alternative protein ingredients in pet food, a number of challenges arise, from industrial scale-up to meeting consumer expectations, food neophobia and food safety.

(Pet) food neophobia

Whether it is the introduction of sushi into Western diets or the practice of irradiating foods, history teaches us that consumers are often sceptical about new foods and new technologies. Evidence shows that consumer acceptance of alternative proteins such as insects and cultured (lab-grown) meat is linked to uncertainty and neophobia: the fear of something new. Consumers have expressed food safety concerns, for example, about the transfer of pathogens or chemical contaminants into insect-based ingredients like protein.

Whether these concerns are genuine risks or only perceived, overcoming neophobia requires early consumer engagement during the development lifecycle to minimise the challenges around successful implementation. Canadian researchers have studied the effect of changing from animal-based to plant- based diets on neophobia. This highlighted the need for better knowledge of the time taken for dogs to overcome neophobia when fed with alternative, plant- based protein diets. The complexity around the dog’s preferences and the owner’s perception of the feeding experience was also identified as a research need.

Understanding food safety issues

With growing interest in alternative proteins, many researchers have highlighted the need for better understanding of the factors affecting food safety. This is important when we consider implementation in pet food, as research also indicates that pet owner awareness of ingredient food safety is an important factor in pet food buying decisions.

Innovation in pet food has always had to overcome challenges and the key to future success in implementing alternative proteins is collaboration across all stakeholders.