Mealworm protein approved for use in dog food in US

       For the first time in the U.S., a mealworm-based pet food ingredient has been approved.
       Ÿnsect is approved by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) for the use of defatted mealworm protein in dog food.
       The company said it was the first time a mealworm-based pet food ingredient had been approved in the U.S.
       The approval came after a two-year evaluation by the American animal food safety organization AAFCO. Ÿnsect’s approval was based on an extensive scientific dossier, which included a six-month trial of mealworm-derived ingredients in dog diets. Ÿnsect said the results demonstrated the product’s safety and nutritional value.
       Further research commissioned by Ÿnsect and conducted by Professor Kelly Swenson of the Animal Science Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign shows that the protein quality of defatted mealworm meal, made from yellow mealworms, is comparable to that of traditionally used high-quality animal proteins in pet food production, such as beef, pork and salmon.
       Ÿnsect CEO Shankar Krishnamurthy said the license represents a huge opportunity for Ÿnsect and its Spring pet food brand as pet owners become increasingly aware of the nutritional and environmental benefits of pet alternatives.
       Reducing the environmental impact of pet food is a major challenge facing the industry, but Ÿnsect says it is committed to helping to address it. Mealworms are grown from agricultural by-products in grain-producing regions and have a lower environmental impact than many other traditionally used ingredients. For example, 1 kg of Spring Protein70 meal emits half the carbon dioxide equivalent of lamb or soy meal, and 1/22 the equivalent of beef meal.
       Krishnamurthy said, “We are very proud to have received approval to commercialize the first mealworm-based pet food ingredient in the United States. This is recognition of our commitment to animal health for over a decade. This comes as we prepare to launch our first mealworm-based pet food ingredient from Afghanistan. This approval opens the door to the huge U.S. market as Means Farms delivers to its first pet food customers.”
       Ÿnsect is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of insect protein and natural fertilizers, with products sold worldwide. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Paris, Ÿnsect offers ecological, healthy and sustainable solutions to meet the growing demand for protein and plant-based raw materials.