The role of ingredients in making pet food richer than ever

A growing interest in plant- and egg-based proteins and ancient grains, and the recent approval of dried black soldier fly larvae for adult dog foods by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) are contributing to the richness of pet food.

Forward-looking researchers are assessing plant-based vegan diets for dogs and the use of mealworms, yeasts, mushrooms and cell-cultured meats as sources of protein for pets.

Ancient ingredients

A fond memory from my childhood is one of my mother enjoying her coffee in the morning, as she doled out dog biscuits to our little button-eyed, poodle-cross dog, Jack.

For nighttime meals, Jack gobbled up canned dog food, alternating between 2 wildly popular 1960s brands, both of which have faded from the marketplace. I remember scooping out the meat chunks from the cans, with the leading ingredients being horse and mule meat and by-products, a far cry from ingredients used in US pet foods today.

Historically, regional pet food brands throughout America would include locally available ingredients. For example, cottonseed flour would be included in dog foods manufactured in the cotton-growing South, and whole fish, fish liver, corn meal, cracked wheat and salt would be the sole ingredients for some coastal cat food brands.

Now, modern pet food recipes often list over 50 ingredients on the label to assure pets receive balanced diets to support long and healthy lives.

Animal protein as a core ingredient

According to a 2020 analysis from the Institute for Feed Education & Research (IFEEDER), over 540 standardized ingredients were used in the production of commercial pet food in 2018.

Animal protein comprised most of the ingredients used, followed by fruit and vegetable ingredients, such as apples, blueberries, peas and spinach. By weight, whole grains, at nearly 1.9 million tons, were the most used ingredients in dog and cat foods, followed by chicken and meat and bone meal as sources of high-quality protein.

While mushrooms and cell-cultured meats are unlikely to completely replace animal-based proteins, many labels today claim, ‘no corn, soy or wheat products’, and over a decade ago, in response to consumer demands, pet food manufacturers started including quinoa, spelt, sorghum, millet and barley in their recipes.

Touted as ‘ancient grains’ to differentiate them from corn and soy products, these products were often included as sources of carbohydrates, although the grains can include a quality mix of plant-based proteins – a growing need as more than one-third of pet owners have expressed a desire to move toward vegetarian diets for their dogs. Ancient grains contain less than 25% protein content compared to corn gluten meal and soybean meal, which contain more than 48% protein.

What will the future bring?

As our understanding of health and nutrition progresses, US pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers are developing new products that support longer, healthier lives for dogs and cats, and address conditions like diabetes, obesity and allergies.

This may take the form of foods that contain antioxidant-rich ingredients, such as alfalfa meal, cranberries and blueberries, or the use of direct-fed microbials to address health challenges or boost overall immune, digestive and oral health. Personalization trends may also increase demand for pet food targeting specific age groups, breeds and sizes.

It is clear that over the last 160 years, the list of ingredients has grown longer, and based on current trends, it appears pets will have an ever-increasing diversity in their kibble choices.