Novel pet food is a rapidly evolving market with the first lab-grown meat authorised in the UK with the intention of being used to feed our furry friends.
British start-up Meatly has received approval from UK regulators for its lab-grown meat to be used in pet food, with plans to initially focus on dogs.
But, while companies are using fake meat, insects and vegan products to make dog food, there is also an increasing appetite for high quality ingredients aimed at indulgent owners and pernickety pooches.
Human supply chain
The company does not advise people to make the dog food a staple of their own daily diet but says their human taste-test is testament to the quality of the product.
Only products that are also in the human supply chain are considered eligible and the company often gets staff, including workers in their office, to sample the products.
“We carry out bi-weekly, cross-functional product evaluations to personally taste-test our meals,” a spokesman said.
“This often extends to our office teams when we are developing new recipes, giving employees the chance to give primary feedback.”
Animal products
Some mainstream dog foods can contain animal products which are not deemed fit for human consumption, such as horns, feathers, and hides, and these do not meet the threshold for Butternut Box meals.
Charlotte McCormack, the director of product development, told The Telegraph: “At Butternut Box, we believe in taste-testing our meals to ensure they are of the highest quality and flavour for pets.
“We are committed to using human-quality ingredients and excluding heavily processed ones commonly found in traditional pet foods.
“This ensures that our meals are made with natural, wholesome ingredients, ensuring pets easily absorb nutrients from our fresh meals to support their health and wellbeing.”