Pet food is a major driver of demand for animal products, and the welfare standards of pet food ingredients are rarely considered by pet owners making purchasing decisions.
Pet food purchasing decisions drive significant demand for animal agriculture products, often with lower welfare standards than human food supply chains. Rendered by-products may originate from factory-farmed animals; chicken meal may come from broiler systems with the worst welfare profiles. Higher-welfare sourcing in pet food is possible — some brands specify cage-free poultry, pasture-raised beef, or sustainably sourced seafood. These purchasing decisions matter at scale.