GHENT, BELGIUM — As more pet food processors strive to meet sustainability standards throughout their operations — from responsible supply chain management to developing sustainable packaging solutions — pet owners are following suit by selecting diets for their furry companions keeping sustainability top of mind. A recent study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition showed pet parents’ willingness to feed insect-based pet food to their cats and dogs as an alternative to traditional diets.

The “Assessing pet owners' willingness to embrace insects in pet food” study was conducted by Ghent University researchers Camila Baptista da Silva, DVM, Ph.D., Elias Leocádio dos Santos Neto, Bart J. G. Broeckx, DVM, Ph.D., Norberto Ruiz-Suárez, DVM, Mia Eeckhout, Ph.D., and Myriam Hesta, Ph.D.

The study analyzed 435 responses, 66% of which were dog owners and 58% were cat owners — 24% owned both dogs and cats. Fifty-two percent of dog owners and 62% of cat owners expressed positive attitudes toward insect-based pet food. Their acceptance of the alternative diet increased after learning of the sustainable and nutritional benefits of insect-based foods.

The experience of dog and cat owners consuming edible insects themselves (entomophagy), 32% and 34%, respectively, and reporting a positive experience translated to more acceptance of insect-based pet food. In fact, even an interest in entomophagy among pet owners who had not yet tried consuming insects translated to an increased acceptance of insect-based pet food.

While cat owners in the study exhibited a more positive perception toward insect-based pet food than the dog owners surveyed, the overall responses indicated a willingness to incorporate these styles of products into their pets’ diets, according to the study. The study also suggests that emphasizing the environmental and nutritional benefits of insect-based diets could help with acceptance among pet parents.

Read more about insect-based ingredients in the pet nutrition space.