© Omni

Study Finds Superior Health Outcomes in Dogs Fed a Plant-Based Diet

A new study has examined health outcomes for 2,536 dogs who were fed a conventional meat, raw meat, or plant-based diet for at least a year. Seven indicators of illness were studied, along with 22 specific health disorders. The results show that dogs fed plant-based diets had superior health outcomes to those fed conventional meat for all seven indicators, with the difference described as “substantial and statistically significant”. The plant-based dogs were also more than 50% less likely to develop six specific health disorders — body weight problems, musculoskeletal issues, gastrointestinal issues, swollen anal glands, and dental or oral problems. No health disorder was consistently more prevalent in dogs fed a plant-based diet. Furthermore, the plant-based group was 21% less likely to have multiple veterinary …

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Dog with a bowl of food

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Big Idea Ventures Partners with Key Industry Players to Launch Next Gen Pet Food Innovation Program

Big Idea Ventures, in collaboration with Mars Petcare, AAK, and Bühler, has announced the launch of the Next Generation Pet Food Program. This initiative seeks to foster innovation in the pet food industry by engaging human food startups to develop sustainable solutions for pet nutrition. The program is particularly focused on reducing carbon emissions through the development of novel ingredients, sustainable protein and fat sources, and advanced processing technologies. This initiative is a joint effort by several industry leaders. Mars Petcare, known for its contributions to veterinary care and pet nutrition, is partnering with AAK, a company specializing in plant-based oils and fats, and Bühler, a global provider of technology for food and feed production. Together, these companies aim to support startups that can introduce …

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Wild Earth vegan cat food

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Wild Earth Launches Nutritionally Complete Vegan Cat Food

Plant-based pet food brand Wild Earth has announced the launch of its first nutritionally complete vegan cat food. Called Unicorn Pate, the wet food exceeds the requirements of AAFCO, an independent organization that sets standards for pet food safety and regulation. It contains ingredients such as lentils, peas, sweet potatoes, and marine microalgae, with added vitamins and minerals. Unlike dogs, which are omnivorous, cats are considered to be obligate carnivores since they require nutrients not naturally found in plants. This includes taurine, an essential amino acid that cats cannot produce themselves and must get from their food. However, Unicorn Pate has been formulated to contain all the nutrients cats require without animal ingredients. Good outcomes for vegan cats The launch comes after a study published …

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The multinational biotechnology Calysta, announces it has shipped the first large batch of its fermented proteins, FeedKynd Pet, designed for pet nutrition to its warehouse in Poland.

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Calysta’s Protein for Pet Food, Made with Microbes, Carbon, and Renewable Energy, Arrives in Europe

FeedKind Pet, an air-based protein for pet food claimed to be nutritious and super sustainable, will soon be available to pet food manufacturers across Europe to cater to consumers looking for high-quality, health-supporting, eco-friendly pet food products. The multinational biotechnology company Calysta, its developer and producer, announces it has shipped the first large batch of FeedKind Pet to its warehouse in Poland. The shipments originated from Chongqing, China, produced by Calysseo, a joint venture between Calysta and Adisseo, which is one of the world leaders in animal nutrition with a turnover of €1.72 billion in 2023 and more than 4,200 customers. According to Calysta, Calysseo’s facilities include two of the world’s largest fermenters, each having a 10,000-ton capacity, to ferment the protein at full commercial scale. Herman …

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vegdog pops made from potatoes

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VegDog Launches 1 Calorie “VEGDOG POPS” Dog Popcorn from Potatoes

The new “VEGDOG POPS” product is a dog popcorn made from potatoes. The “VEGDOG POPS” were first tried in the VegDog Advent calendar 2023. After positive customer feedback, VegDog now permanently introduces the dog snack. The snack for dogs is low in fat, low in calories, and consists of only three ingredients. VEGDOG’s product portfolio includes wet, dry, and supplements as well as snacks. The range is tailored to various needs and age groups, gluten-free and suitable for allergic dogs. The VEGDOG product range is to be continuously expanded in order to respond even better to individual tastes and needs. The vegan treats can make the process of getting started with vegetable dog nutrition easier for pet parents. The perfect training snack “Because they are …

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A drawing of a happy dog under the sun by Noochies!

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Noochies! Starts FDA Approval Process as Cultivated Pet Food Inches Closer to Shelves

US pet food brand Noochies! announces that it has initiated the first steps of the regulatory process to introduce a cultivated chicken dog product in the US market. Further Foods, the brand’s parent company owned by Canada’s CULT Food Science, has completed and submitted a feeding trial protocol for dogs to the FDA. The feeding trials, necessary to ensure the novel ingredient’s safety and efficacy, will start later this year, contingent on the FDA’s approval. The protocol’s design was developed in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Dodd, co-founder of the US startup Friends & Family Pet Food Co. Noochies! has already introduced two unique products featuring an alternative protein: Freeze-Dried Dog and Cat Snacks, crafted with a dried yeast protein developed by CULT Food Science. Mitchell Scott, …

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PawCo

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PawCo Foods Sees 1000% Growth, Achieves $1M Annual Recurring Revenue for Plant-Based Pet Food

San Francisco’s PawCo Foods, founded by former Impossible Foods employee Dr. Mahsa Vazin, has achieved a significant milestone by reaching $1,000,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) within three years of its founding. The company, which specializes in plant-based dog food, reported a 1000% year-over-year growth rate, reflecting a rising demand for sustainable pet nutrition and the acknowledgment that dogs can thrive on a plant-based diet. Dr. Mahsa Vazin, founder and CEO of PawCo Foods and previous employee of Impossible Foods, noted her satisfaction with the company’s progress. “Three years ago when I founded PawCo, I couldn’t even dream about hitting $1M ARR and building this amazing team.” In the past year, PawCo introduced two new products: LuxBites and InstaBites. LuxBites™ is a premium dog food designed …

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British Veterinary Association Acknowledges That Dogs Can Be Fed a Plant-Based Diet

After several years of opposing meat-free diets for dogs, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has changed its policy, acknowledging that “It is possible to feed dogs a plant-based diet”. The policy emphasises that any diet chosen must be nutritionally balanced and should be carefully trialled to ensure it is appropriate for the pet in question. The BVA said it did not aim to determine the “best” diet for pets, but rather to support owners to meet their pets’ nutritional needs in a way that aligns with their own lifestyle choices. The news comes after the BVA was accused of “a significant conflict of interest” due to its partnership with Mars Petcare, a seller of meat-based pet foods. Critics suggested that this partnership was partially responsible …

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Further Foods, the company behind the cruelty-free pet food brand Noochies!, will submit a feeding trial protocol for dogs and their cultivated chicken to the FDA later this month.

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Noochies! Takes First Regulatory Steps to Launch a Cultivated Chicken Product for Dogs in the USA

Canada’s CULT Food Science (“CULT” or the “Company”) (CSE: CULT) (OTC: CULTF) (FRA: LN0) announces that its subsidiary, Further Foods, the company behind the pet food brand Noochies!, will submit a feeding trial protocol for a cultivated chicken ingredient to the FDA later this month. Noochies!, a brand leveraging alternative proteins to avoid factory-farmed chicken and beef, has already introduced two unique products featuring a dried yeast protein developed by CULT Food Science to meet pets’ daily nutritional requirements: Freeze-Dried Dog and Cat Snacks. The brand has plans to formulate new Noochies! with cultivated chicken. The feeding trials, necessary for regulatory approval as cultivated chicken is a new ingredient that pets have never consumed, are planned to commence in Q4 of this year. This is contingent …

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A partnership between the Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks and the young US company Friends & Family Pet Food Co (FnF) is set to launch one of world's first cultivated fish cat treats brand in Singapore and San Francisco in early 2025.

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UMAMI Bioworks and Friends & Family Pet Food Co. to Launch Cultivated Fish Cat Treats in 2025

A partnership between Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks, (previously Umami Meats) and the young US company Friends & Family Pet Food Co. (recently part of the ProVeg Incubator’s 12th cohort) is set to launch one of the world’s first cultivated fish cat treats in Singapore and in San Francisco, USA, early next year. The new products, reportedly crafted with high-quality cultivated fish proteins enriched with high-value microalgae and essential nutrients, aimed to promote what FnF calls a “Longevity Diet” for cats. In addition, the animal and ocean-friendly cat food lineup offers significant environmental benefits since cultivated fish production is more resource-efficient, requiring less land, water, and feed than traditional fishing methods or aquaculture. Joshua Errett, Friends & Family CEO and founder, states, “Together, we have created a …

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Meatly's cultivated chicken for pets approved for sale in the UK, first products to hit shelves this year.

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Meatly’s Cultivated Chicken for Pets Approved for Sale in the UK, First Products to Hit Shelves This Year

The UK’s Meatly, previously Good Dog Food, announces that it has received regulatory clearance from relevant UK Government departments to produce and sell cultivated meat for pet food, making it the first company in the country to obtain such authorization. The company explains that its cultivated chicken has undergone extensive testing and has been confirmed free from bacteria, viruses, GMOs, antibiotics, harmful pathogens, heavy metals, and other impurities. Its production facility has also been approved to produce and handle its cultivated chicken. Meatly has successfully developed and manufactured the UK’s first cultivated chicken product for cats, Omni Feast, with its first commercial partner, the plant-based pet food company Omni. With this approval, the first samples will be launched in the UK later this year, making …

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Vegan Dog Food Brand HOWND Announces Sale to Leading Manufacturer Pets Choice

UK-based company Power Pet Brands has announced the sale of its multi-award-winning vegan dog food brand, HOWND, to leading industry manufacturer Pets Choice. Established in 2015, HOWND offers a range of plant-based wet and dry food for dogs, along with wellness treats and cruelty-free pet care products. Pets Choice will assume responsibility for HOWND’s sales from August 5. Through the acquisition, HOWND will benefit from Pets Choice’s extensive distribution network, making its products significantly more accessible to customers. The brand joins the manufacturer’s existing portfolio, which includes Webbox, Bob Martin, Felight, TastyBone, and Vet’s Kitchen. “This is another fantastic acquisition for Pets Choice as we continue our drive into product premiumisation,” said Pets Choice CEO Tony Raeburn. “HOWND will give our company an entrance into …

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THE PACK plant-based pet food

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Plant-Based Pet Food Brand THE PACK Announces Planet Organic Listing & Equity Crowdfunding Campaign

UK plant-based pet food startup THE PACK has announced a listing at supermarket chain Planet Organic, which has nine stores across London. THE PACK’s full range of wet food and oven-baked dried food is now available at all Planet Organic locations, becoming one of very few plant-based pet food brands to be stocked at a UK brick-and-mortar retail chain. The company says the listing represents its increasing focus on an omnichannel strategy. “We are seeing increasing interest from retailers in listing our plant-based dog food,” said Damien Clarkson, co-founder and CEO of THE PACK. “I commend Planet Organic under the visionary leadership of founder Renee Elliot for re-launching their pet food section and putting plant-based proteins front and centre alongside other established brands. THE PACK …

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Hownd wellness treats roll out into Pets at Home

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HOWND’s Functional Treats Land on Shelves of Britain’s Largest Pet Retailer

HOWND this week announces the launch of three lines of its hypoallergenic functional treats into Pets at Home stores across the UK. The news shortly follows the March launch of the brand’s Superfood range into Pets At Home online. Three flavours, in fully recyclable packaging, will be available from August 5th: Keep Calm with Camomile, Lavender and Valerian Root for stress relief; Got an Itch? with Shiitake Mushrooms and Turmeric for healthy skin & coat; and Yup You Stink! with Mint, Parsley and Lovage herbs for bad breath. Founded in 2015, HOWND has evolved into a multi award-winning ethical lifestyle brand for dogs in the UK and overseas. This January, the company was named as one of the most ethical businesses in the world by …

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Bond Pet Foods has partnered with previous investor Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, a leading provider of innovative animal nutrition solutions, to develop tailored, non-animal-derived ingredients for pet food applications. 

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Bond Pet Foods & Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition to Develop Enhanced Pet Food With “Brewed” Animal Proteins

Precision fermentation company Bond Pet Foods has partnered with previous investor Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition, a leading provider of innovative animal nutrition solutions, to develop tailored, non-animal-derived ingredients for pet food applications. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Bond Pet Foods “brews” customizable meat proteins (chicken, turkey, and fish) using yeast and precision fermentation technology instead of raising livestock or fishing. Through the collaboration, Wilbur-Ellis will formulate innovative pet food products incorporating these customized proteins to improve the nutritional value or enhance other benefits of pet food products, offering a new range of multifunctional pet diet solutions. The collaboration is Wilbur-Ellis Nutrition’s first of its kind, and it is Bond’s second strategic partnership with a global player to introduce its sustainable ingredients in the pet food industry. Nick Braden, …

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Cultivated meat company BioCraft Pet Nutrition, a manufacturer of pet food ingredients, announces that it has reached price parity with premium traditional meat

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BioCraft’s Cultivated Ingredients Achieve Price Parity with Premium Meat for Pet Food

Austrian cultivated meat company BioCraft Pet Nutrition, a manufacturer of cultivated ingredients for pet food, today makes an announcement claiming it has reached price parity with traditional premium pet meat products.  BioCraft says it has achieved a commercial price of $2.00 to $2.50 per pound of cultivated meat, making it competitive with premium meat for pet food. To put these prices in context, research by the Good Food Institute found that cultivated meat could be cost-competitive with some conventional meats by 2030 at a production cost of $2.92 per pound. CEO Shannon Falconer commented, “Achieving price parity and a robust nutritional profile for pets were the only elements holding back cultivated meat for the pet food industry — and BioCraft has now achieved both.” Rethinking …

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Bene Meat Technologie introduces cultivated meat pet food product at Interzoo 2024

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Bene Meat Technologies Introduces Slaughter-Free Pet Meat at Interzoo Fair

Bene Meat Technologies (BMT), a Czech startup developing cultivated meat for food and feed, has introduced its cultivated meat pet food product publicly for the first time. Claimed as a “world premiere,” BMT’s cultivated pet food for cats and dogs was presented at the latest Interzoo trade fair in Nuremberg, where BMT handed attendees samples of its “revolutionary” pet food (it has not been specified which type of meat). Last November, the startup received a license from the European Feed Materials Register to commercialize a cultivated ingredient in the European market, becoming the first to obtain such registration. (Animal feed materials do not require pre-market approval from the EU novel food system.) After this commercial milestone, BMT says it has scaled its production capabilities to …

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Dr. Clauder's partners with Calysta to launch innovative dog treats made with FeedKindPet protein.

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Dr. Clauder’s Introduces the “World’s First” Dog Treats Featuring Calysta’s Air-Based Protein FeedKindPet

German pet food manufacturer Dr. Clauder’s has partnered with microbial protein pioneer Calysta, to launch the world’s first dog treats made with FeedKindPet, an air-based protein ingredient designed for pet nutrition. FeedKindPet, a vegan protein source, is said to be nutrient-dense, offering a complete amino acid profile for dogs, and is highly digestible while featuring postbiotic properties that help maintain a healthy gut. It has been approved for use in pet food in the EU and has received GRAS status in the USA. Dr. Clauder’s is a top German brand focused on pet health and nutrition, offering a wide range of high-quality products for dogs and cats. The company is known by pet owners and professionals for its premium pet food and supplements, which are made …

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Meatly unveils a new affordable protein-free culture medium that it claims will revolutionize the production of cultivated meat.   

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Meatly Unveils “Groundbreaking” Protein-Free Culture Medium at £1 Per Liter

UK cultivated pet food company Meatly, formerly known as Good Dog Food, unveils a new affordable protein-free culture medium that it claims will revolutionize the production of cultivated meat.    The high cost of the growth media used to cultivate meat is a significant obstacle to achieving price parity with traditional meat products. To address this challenge, Meatly has developed a “first-of-its-kind” culture medium priced at only £1 per liter, slashing the costs a hundredfold or more. Moreover, prices can be even lower when larger volumes are purchased.  The solution, described as a groundbreaking development, does not contain serum, animal-derived components, microcarriers, steroids, hormones, growth factors, and antibiotics. It is made with food-safe ingredients, an essential step in making cultivated meat a safe, affordable, and sustainable alternative …

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A drawing of a happy dog under the sun by Noochies!

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CULT Food Science Secures Funds to Expand Noochies! Line of Cultured Yeast Pet Food

CULT Food Science Corp. announces it has raised CAD$800,000 to expand the portfolio of Noochies! and solidify its position as a fast-growing, sustainable pet food brand. According to the announcement, CULT Food Science completed a private placement by selling 16,000,000 units for CAD$0.05 per unit. Each unit consists of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. The warrant allows the holder to purchase additional shares at a specified price within two years. PowerOne Capital Markets Limited acted as a finder in the private placement transaction and received $36,750 in cash finder’s fees and 735,000 finder’s units (Finder Warrants) as compensation. Each Finder Warrant can be exercised into one unit for $0.05 within two years from closing. Mitchell Scott, CEO of CULT Food Science, comments, …

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