Education will be a critical component of adding novel proteins to pet diets according to Mark Mendal, with the consulting firm Pet Proteins. He spoke during Petfood Forum 2016 on April 19, 2016. Supply challenges may also be an issue.
Source: Petfood Industry, April 19, 2016.
Increasing the role of novel proteins in pet foods and treats allows manufacturers to expand the portfolio of proteins offered in their formulas and provide a wider variety for these allergy-suffering pets. Since pets have not currently been exposed to these novel proteins, like kangaroo or venison, for as long as they generally have for conventional proteins like chicken, diets with novel proteins have a lower risk of allergies, Mendal said.
INSIGHTS: There have been significant challenges with raw material contamination in recent years. One has to wonder what challenges may crop up when novel protein sources from small suppliers begin to enter the ingredient supply chains.