Pet parents and insect-based pet food: recipe for a great love story
A consumer survey powered by YummyPets reveals how pet parents feel about insect proteins in pet food and shows the high potential of such alternative protein sources in the industry.
With the pet food market growing fast, more high- quality sustainably produced proteins are needed to respond to pets’ nutritional needs. Alternative proteins, including insects, could be key in the development of the pet food sector. A high-quality animal protein with a limited impact on climate change and biodiversity can allow the pet food industry to thrive and grow in a sustainable way.
With over 75% of pet parents reading the ingredient list when they buy pet food and over 60% stating ingredients are their first selection criteria, the acceptance of insects by pet parents is key for the development of this alternative protein.
An online quantitative consumer survey was conducted by YummyPets in the summer of 2022 in the UK, France, Belgium, Canada and the US. Over 2,000 respondents were asked their opinions on insect proteins in pet food. Only 3% of those surveyed were currently feeding an insect-based diet to their pet.
Insects for the planet
Pet parents understand that insect proteins can contribute to lowering the carbon footprint of a pet food product.
The survey highlighted that most pet parents agree that insect-based pet food is a meaningful way to address environmental concerns. A stronger consensus was seen in France and in Belgium (84% to 87%); while the US displayed more mixed opinions (62%).
Communicate and educate
Most pet parents surveyed were not using an insect- based diet. Though they were willing to try, they felt they needed more information before introducing insect protein into their pet’s diet. Brands using insect-based ingredients need to continue the work of communication and education to increase acceptance.
The perception of potential health risks of pets consuming insect ingredients varies greatly across countries. French and Belgian pet parents most trust insect-based food with only 32% and 34% of them thinking insects represent a health risk to their pets.
In the UK (74%), and even more so in the US (86%), the majority of pet parents think eating insects could pose a health risk to their pets – further highlighting the need for more information.
On the way to acceptance
The main obstacles to pet parents’ acceptance of an insect-based diet for their pets are their doubts about its nutritional value and perceptions that it is ‘unnatural’ and ‘disgusting’. Pet parents of all 5 countries surveyed mentioned the famous ‘yuck factor’ of eating insects.
And, while it can be expected that the other 3 reasons preventing pet parents from switching to an insect-based diet (national qualities, ‘naturalness’, health risks) can be addressed by communication and education, time and habit may be the only remedies to lessen consumer disgust.
Future of insects in pet food
Insect-based ingredients are part of the pet food industry’s strategy to meet a growing demand, as well as meeting sustainability expectations and regulations. This survey provides a better understanding of acceptance drivers for insect-based diets in pet food.
It highlights that the path toward greater adoption of this novel protein source includes educating pet parents as to the safety and nutritional benefits of these ingredients.
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