Practitioners and pet parents looking for a sustainable pet food now has a new option, thanks to a recent commercialization approval from the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), a nonprofit organization that sets standards for both animal feeds and pet foods in the .U.S.
Ÿnsect, producer of insect-based proteins and the pet food brand Sprÿng, has been granted authorization by the AAFCO to use defatted mealworm proteins within dog nutrition. It is the first time mealworm-based ingredients for pet foods have been approved in the U.S., according to the company. Mealworms are raised from agricultural by-products in cereal-producing regions; hence, their environmental footprint is reportedly lower than many other traditionally used ingredients.
“We are very proud to have obtained the very first authorization for the commercialization of mealworm-based ingredients for pet food in the United States,” says Shankar Krishnamoorthy, CEO of Ÿnsect.
The approval was granted to Ÿnsect based on a comprehensive scientific dossier, which included a six-month trial introducing mealworm-derived ingredients into the diet of dogs. The results demonstrated the safety of the product and its nutritional benefits.
The authorization follows a two-year evaluation by the AAFCO.
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