PARIS — Insect-based protein producer Ÿnsect announced Jan. 24 that it has received approval from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to include its defatted mealworm protein ingredients in dog food products .
According to the company, the authorization marks the first mealworm-based ingredient approved for use in pet food in the United States.
The decision follows a six-month scientific trial of dog nutrition ingredients, the results of which confirmed the safety and nutritional effectiveness of Ÿnsect’s mealworm-based proteins. In addition to the test, research conducted by Kelly Swanson, Ph.D., professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and his team in the Animal Sciences Laboratory showed defatted mealworm flour of Ÿnsect derived from The dark is on par with traditional pet food proteins, such as beef, pork and salmon, in terms of quality.
The AAFCO authorization “opens up huge prospects” for Ÿnsect, according to the company, and follows its launch of Sprÿng, a B2B2C pet food ingredient brand introduced in May 2023, offering premium ingredient-based to pet food insect and treatment manufacturers worldwide.
Ÿnsect actively addresses sustainability in the pet food industry through insect-based ingredients, which are grown in agricultural products, use less water and take up less space than traditional protein production , and therefore creates a lower environmental footprint.
According to the company, 1 kg of Sprÿng Protein70 flour emits only half of the carbon dioxide as 1 kg of lamb or soy flour, and 22-times less than beef flour.
“We are very proud to have obtained the first-ever authorization for the commercialization of mealworm-based ingredients for pet food in the United States,” said Shankar Krishnamoorthy, chief executive officer of Ÿnsect. “This is the recognition of more than 10 years of research for the benefit of animal health. This authorization opens the doors to the vast American market as we prepare to serve our first pet food customers from our Amiens farm.”
Read more about product development, ingredients and formulation.
