Ÿnsect, one of the strongest players in the production of insect-based proteins, has been granted permission by AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) to use defatted mealworm proteins within dog nutrition. This is the first time mealworm-based ingredients for pet foods have been approved in the United States.
Authorization follows a two-year review by AAFCO. The approval was granted to Ÿnsect based on a comprehensive scientific dossier that included a 6-month trial placing ingredients derived from mealworms in dogs’ food. The results showed the safety of the product and its nutritional benefits.
A further study commissioned by Ÿnsect with Professor Kelly Swanson from the Animal Sciences Laboratory at Urbana-Champaign of the University of Illinois, proved that the protein quality of defatted mealworm flour from Tenebrio molitor was comparable to high quality which are animal proteins traditionally used in pet food. manufacturing, such as beef, pork, and salmon.
The authorization opens up huge prospects for Ÿnsect, and its pet food brand Sprÿng as pet owners become increasingly aware of both the nutritional and environmental benefits of animal-based alternatives.
Reducing the environmental impact of pet food is a major challenge for the industry, but Ÿnsect is poised to actively contribute to the solution. Mealworms are raised from agricultural products in cereal-producing regions, their environmental footprint is lower than many other traditionally used ingredients. For example, 1 kg of Sprÿng Protein70 flour emits half the CO2 equivalent 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. This is the recognition of more than 10 years of research for the benefit of animal health,” said Shankar Krishnamoorthy, chief executive officer of Ÿnsect. “This authorization opens the doors to the vast American market as we prepare to serve our first pet food customers from our Amiens farm.”
