Companion Animals

Pet Food and Animal Welfare: The Supply Chain

Pet food is predominantly made from animal products, with welfare standards in pet food supply chains rarely scrutinized by pet owners.

Key Facts

Global pet food market uses approximately 7 million tonnes of animal products annually
Pet food labeling requirements are less stringent than human food regarding welfare claims
By-products from human food production form the majority of wet pet food ingredients
Plant-based pet food options exist for dogs but complete plant-based cat food remains nutritionally complex

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of animals in pet food supply chains is largely invisible. Pet owners who make welfare-conscious food choices for themselves rarely apply the same scrutiny to their pets food. By-product sourcing from intensive systems means that pet food consumption drives demand for the same production systems that welfare advocates seek to improve.

What You Can Do

Check pet food brands for welfare sourcing claims and their credibility
Support brands that source from higher-welfare certified supply chains
Consider insect-protein pet foods as a lower-welfare-cost protein alternative
Advocate for pet food labeling requirements to include welfare sourcing information