Pet Food: Latest News 2025 - vegconomist: the vegan business magazine

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Study: Transitioning Pets to Vegan Diets is a “Significant Climate Change Mitigation Strategy”

May 16, 2025

A new study published in the journal Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems has concluded that feeding pets a nutritionally sound vegan diet is a “significant extant climate change mitigation strategy which warrants immediate implementation”. The study cites research showing that 25-30% of the environmental impacts of livestock production in the US have been attributed to companion animal diets. It also claims that in Japan, the environmental impacts of a medium dog’s diet are greater than those of the average person’s diet. In wealthy countries with high rates of pet ownership, the benefits of shifting dogs away from meat-based diets are said to be equivalent to between a quarter and a third of the environmental benefits achievable through human dietary change. The role of animal byproducts …

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Alt Protein Pet Food Brand THE PACK Announces Acquisition by Prefera Petfood

May 2, 2025

UK-based alternative protein pet food brand THE PACK has announced its acquisition by Prefera Petfood SRL, a producer of premium natural wet foods for cats and dogs. As part of the deal, THE PACK founders Damien Clarkson and Judy Nadel will join the Prefera team to drive the growth of the brand across the UK and Europe. Several new high-quality nutrition products are expected to be brought to market through the partnership. The news comes just a month after Prefera Petfood partnered with biotech company Biocraft Pet Nutrition to commercialize cat food made from cultivated mouse meat. “THE PACK has been one of the pioneering companies in the emerging alternative protein pet food market,” said Nicola Magalini, Managing Partner at Prefera Petfood. “Prefera is excited …

Organisations and brands:

Prefera Petfood

THE PACK

MicroHarvest co-founders Luísa Cruz, Katelijne Bekers and Jonathan Roberz. © MicroHarvest

Palatability Trials Find Pets Prefer MicroHarvest Microbial Protein to Commercially-Available Kibble

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025

New palatability trials by biotech innovator MicroHarvest have found that both cats and dogs preferred the company’s MPX microbial protein to a control food. The tests used an MPX-based kibble made in collaboration with a Portuguese animal nutrition company. They found that 68% of cats and 58% of small dogs chose the MPX protein first, favouring it over a control option consisting of a commercially available reference formula. Additionally, the cats showed close to a 50% increase in portion intake when given the MPX-based protein, with three-quarters of owners reporting that their pets consumed the same or more than their typical portion. The dogs also ate close to half (44%) more MPX kibble compared to the control diet, with 90% of owners confirming that their …

Organisations and brands:

MicroHarvest

BioCraft Pet Nutrition Partners With Prefera Petfood to Commercialize Cat Food Made From Cultivated Mouse

April 7, 2025

Biotech company BioCraft Pet Nutrition has announced a collaboration with Prefera Petfood, a specialist in premium natural wet pet food production, to commercialize cat food made from cultivated mouse meat. The first product launched by the partnership will be a hypoallergenic, nutritionally complete mouse “mousse”. The food is a source of protein and provides an omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio that is said to be superior to traditional meat. It is described as a sustainable option that is very similar to the natural small prey diet of cats. In most products made using cellular agriculture, the percentage of cultivated ingredients used is relatively low; however, BioCraft’s product is made from 99% cultivated mouse meat. Palatability tests have reportedly demonstrated exceptional acceptance rates among cats, …

Organisations and brands:

BioCraft Pet Nutrition

Prefera Petfood

BioCraft Pet Nutrition Receives Registration to Sell Cultivated Pet Food Ingredients in the EU

March 25, 2025

BioCraft Pet Nutrition, a biotech company developing cultivated animal ingredients for the pet food market, announces that it has received registration from the Austrian authorities to use its ingredients in the European Union. There is currently no pre-market approval process in the EU for animal feed ingredients, but companies must meet legal requirements to ensure their products are safe and become registered users of animal byproducts. BioCraft has now met these obligations, meaning it can begin selling ingredients to EU pet food producers. BioCraft has achieved legal status following rigorous studies conducted over a three-year period, which confirmed that the company’s ingredients are produced using stable, non-immortalized, non-genetically modified animal cells. They were also found to be free of pathogens, viruses, heavy metals, and biogenic …

Organisations and brands:

BioCraft Pet Nutrition

CULT Food Science Subsidiary Signs Agreement for Supply of Cultivated Meat for Pet Treats

March 20, 2025

CULT Food Science Corp. has announced that its subsidiary, Further Foods Inc., has entered into a research and development (R&D) supply agreement with a cultivated meat producer. The agreement secures a supply of cultivated meat for the creation of Noochies!, a line of pet treats made from lab-grown meat. Noochies! will be introduced at the Global Pet Show in Orlando, Florida, from March 26-28. The event will serve as an opportunity to present the pet treat line to distributors and consumers in the pet food industry. Further Foods is also expanding its distribution in Asia, specifically targeting Southeast Asia, where it has received initial orders from a distributor. Additional discussions are ongoing with other potential partners in the region. The growing interest in sustainable pet …

Organisations and brands:

CULT Food Science

Noochies!

Marsapet Launches First Dog Food Featuring FeedKind Pet Protein

February 28, 2025

SAN MATEO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Calysta and Marsapet have launched the first complete dog food featuring FeedKind Pet protein, a cultured protein fermented without using any arable land or animal ingredients. Produced under its Marsavet line and targeted at animal health, MicroBell dry kibble is a vegan, grain-free, and gluten-free pet food with all the necessary amino acids to keep dogs healthy. MicroBell is primarily comprised of sweet potatoes, peas, FeedKind protein, and potatoes, and is particularly well suited for dogs with allergies or sensitive stomachs. The high nutrient density, balanced amino acid profile, and attractive palatability of FeedKind Pet make it an excellent option for pet parents who want the nutrition usually available in animal protein, without the animal. Herman Sloot, Calysta’s VP of Global Sales said: …

Organisations and brands:

Calysta

Marsapet

Study: Enifer’s PEKILO®Pet Mycoprotein Ingredient is Up to Seven Times More Carbon Efficient Than Soy Protein Concentrate

February 27, 2025

A new life cycle assessment by Finnish biotech company Enifer has found that the carbon footprint of the company’s proprietary mycoprotein ingredient, PEKILO®Pet, is significantly lower than that of many common pet food ingredients. The cradle-to-gate total carbon footprint of PEKILO®Pet, covering fossil, biogenic, land use, land use change, and forestry emissions, was found to be 0.93 kgCO₂e per kilogram of product. In contrast, soy protein concentrate can produce up to 6.7 kgCO₂e per kilogram, over seven times more. PEKILO®Pet is also said to outperform insect protein powder (1.149 kg CO₂e per kilogram), and conventional dry pet food ingredients such as lamb (5.84 kg CO₂e per kilogram). The production process accounts for 47% of PEKILO®Pet’s emissions, while raw materials account for 38% and transportation contributes …

Organisations and brands:

Enifer

Nutraland USA is now a NASC Preferred Supplier

Plant-Based Ingredient Provider Nutraland USA Becomes a Preferred Supplier for National Animal Supplement Council

February 25, 2025

Nutraland USA, a provider of plant-based ingredients for the nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and food and beverage industries, has joined the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) as a Preferred Supplier. NASC is a non-profit organization promoting the responsible manufacture and marketing of animal supplements. To gain Preferred Supplier status, member companies must meet stringent industry standards relating to quality, safety, and efficacy. To qualify, Nutraland USA underwent a rigorous process to ensure its compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs). This included comprehensive assessments of the company’s manufacturing processes, quality control procedures, and ingredient sourcing. “We are thrilled to join NASC as a Preferred Supplier,” said Sanying Xu, President of Nutraland USA. “This recognition reaffirms our dedication to providing science-backed, all-natural ingredients that support the health and …

Organisations and brands:

National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)

Nutraland USA

Omni Appears on Dragons’ Den, Receiving “Highest Ever Pet Food Valuation”

February 13, 2025

UK-based alt protein pet food startup Omni has appeared on business pitching TV show Dragons’ Den, achieving what is claimed to be the highest ever pet food valuation seen on the programme. Founders Dr. Guy Sandelowsky and Shiv Sivakumar secured a £75,000 investment from Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden in exchange for 2.5% equity. The Dragons were impressed by Omni’s significant growth since its launch in 2021; so far, the company has served over five million plant-based meals to pets in the UK alone, with over 400% sales growth. Omni faced challenges about some of its numbers from Dragons Peter Jones and Tokar Sulyman. In response, Sivakumar explained that while the business spends £40 to acquire a customer, that customer will have a £400 lifetime …

Organisations and brands:

Dragons' Den

Omni

Andrew Knight Breaks Down the Implications of Cultivated Meat in Pet Food Following Meatly Launch

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025

In response to the recent launch of Chick Bites, the world’s first pet food containing cultivated meat, Andrew Knight, veterinary professor of Animal Welfare and a UK, European, American and New Zealand veterinary specialist, offers an in-depth commentary on the significance of this significant development. The new product, which combines plant-based ingredients with Meatly’s cultivated chicken, marks a major step forward in sustainable pet food, with a limited release now available at Pets at Home in Brentford, London. In this video, Knight provides valuable insights into the environmental benefits of cell-based meat in pet food and the potential health considerations for pets. He also discusses the future of the cultivated meat industry in pet care and the broader ethical implications. The commentary includes a clip …

Meatly & THE PACK Launch “World’s First” Pet Food Containing Cultivated Meat

February 6, 2025

UK cultivated meat producer Meatly has partnered with plant-based pet food brand THE PACK to launch what is claimed to be the world’s first pet food made with cultivated meat. Called Chick Bites, the product combines plant-based ingredients with Meatly’s cultivated chicken, providing an alternative to traditional dog treats. A limited release of the product will be available at Pets at Home Brentford, London, from February 7. Pets at Home is a British pet store chain and one of the largest investors in Meatly; with the new launch, it has reportedly become the first retailer globally to sell pet food containing cultivated meat, aligning with its sustainability goals. Meatly now plans to raise additional funding to expand production and make its cultivated chicken more widely …

Organisations and brands:

Meatly

THE PACK

Meatly’s Cultivated Chicken Earns Paws of Approval in Feeding Trials, New Investments Ahead of 2025 Launch

November 12, 2024

Meatly, the UK’s only regulatory-approved cultivated meat company, announces the latest findings from its feeding trials with dogs for Meatly Chicken and a new investment round. The feeding trials, claimed to be the first in the world to evaluate a cultivated meat ingredient for pets, demonstrated that Meatly Chicken is safe, showing no significant adverse effects across 134 recorded meals. Since taste is king, even for dogs, alongside safety, the trials aimed to investigate if the canines liked the Meatly Chicken product. According to the results, “dogs are keen for seconds.” 50% of dogs continued licking the bowl after the meal, 75% of dogs reportedly enjoyed the cultivated meat more than their baseline diet, and 75% of dogs started their meals immediately or within a …

Modern Plant-Based Foods Enters Pet Food Market With Acquisition of AnimalKind

October 28, 2024October 28, 2024

Modern Plant-Based Foods Inc. (CSE: MEAT), a Vancouver-based company specializing in plant-based food products, has announced the completion of its acquisition of AnimalKind, a plant-based pet food company headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia. Through this acquisition, Modern Plant-Based Foods is expanding into the plant-based pet food sector, diversifying its portfolio beyond human food products. The acquisition of AnimalKind was finalized through the purchase of all outstanding securities of 1471394 B.C. Ltd., the company operating under the AnimalKind brand. AnimalKind’s product line includes sustainably sourced, plant-based treats for pets, such as blueberry, apple, and pumpkin treats for dogs. According to the Share Exchange Agreement terms, Modern Plant-Based Foods issued a total of 4 million common shares to AnimalKind’s shareholders. Each share was valued at $0.20, for …

Organisations and brands:

Modern Plant Based Foods

Further Foods Launches Noochies! Immune Sprinkles, FDA Deems Trial “Generally Appropriate”

October 25, 2024

CULT Food Science subsidiary, Further Foods Inc., yesterday announced the launch of new Noochies! Immune Sprinkles for cats and dogs, the first products from its line of Sprinkles toppers, in the US and Canada. CULT raised CAD$800,000 to expand the Noochies! portfolio back in May, with CEO Mitchell Scott stating at the time, “CULT is uniquely positioned to play a key part in the transformation of our food system. The funds raised in this private placement will allow us to further scale our portfolio company, Noochies, and establish it as a fast-growing, sustainable pet food brand.” This July, the company preannounced its plans to submit a feeding trial protocol for FDA approval of its cultivated chicken ingredient, and in August, Further Foods initiated the regulatory …

Organisations and brands:

Noochies!

Friends & Family & Novel Farms to Launch Cultivated Meat Products for Pets by 2025

October 23, 2024

California’s Friends & Family Pet Food Co., a startup developing feed options with sustainable proteins, is collaborating with Novel Farms, a cell ag startup also based in California, to introduce cultivated meat products for dogs and cats. Reportedly, the companies are in the testing and prototyping stages, aiming for a product line launch in 2025, targeting the San Francisco Bay Area. The resulting pet food products will combine cultivated meat with plant-based ingredients, mirroring the approach used by cultivated meat companies. Friends & Family has also partnered with Singapore’s UMAMI Bioworks to create cultivated seafood treats for cats enriched with high-value microalgae and essential nutrients for healthier diets. Moving from factory-farmed animal protein Joshua Errett (CEO, formerly of Because, Animals), Jonny Cruz, and Sarah Dodd founded Friends …

Organisations and brands:

friends-family-pet-food-co

novel farms

THE PACK plant-based pet food becomes a certified B Corp

THE PACK Reports 41% Growth in the First Half of 2024 as Interest in Plant-Based Pet Food Surges

September 30, 2024

UK plant-based pet food brand THE PACK has reported that it saw 41% growth in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year. The company also now has over 200 customers signed up for regular D2C orders. THE PACK is currently looking to raise £100,000 via an ongoing crowdfunding campaign to fuel further expansion. The brand notes that the plant-based pet food market is seeing rapid growth globally, indicating that there is likely to be strong demand for its products. A Vegan Society report published in 2022 found that a significant proportion of Brits were interested in buying plant-based food for their pets, and that the trend was not limited to vegetarian and vegan pet owners. According to THE PACK, the …

Organisations and brands:

THE PACK

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

September 12, 2024

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 …

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

August 22, 2024

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 Launches Nutritionally Complete Vegan Cat Food

August 21, 2024

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 …

Organisations and brands:

Wild Earth

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The vegconomist-newsletter
information for decision-makers