The pet food industry uses billions of tonnes of animal products annually, and the welfare of animals in the pet food supply chain deserves the same scrutiny as food produced for human consumption.
The welfare of animals in the pet food supply chain is an often-overlooked dimension of companion animal ownership. Owners committed to higher-welfare food choices for themselves may not apply the same standards to the food they buy for their pets. The ingredient sourcing practices of major pet food brands vary considerably, with few publishing detailed supply chain welfare standards. The growth of premium pet food markets offers an opportunity for welfare-certified ingredient sourcing to become a differentiating factor, but this requires consumer demand and brand transparency. Novel protein sources including insects and single-cell proteins may offer welfare advantages over conventional meat ingredients while meeting pets nutritional needs.