Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat?
Due to the increasing global population, the world cannot currently support the well-known techniques of food production due to their harmful effects on land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The key answer is a solution based on the use of edible insects. They have always been p...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1515 |
| _version_ | 1827663017731424256 |
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| author | Jagoda Kępińska-Pacelik Wioletta Biel |
| author_facet | Jagoda Kępińska-Pacelik Wioletta Biel |
| author_sort | Jagoda Kępińska-Pacelik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Due to the increasing global population, the world cannot currently support the well-known techniques of food production due to their harmful effects on land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The key answer is a solution based on the use of edible insects. They have always been present in the diet of animals. They are characterized by a very good nutritional value (e.g., high protein content and contents of essential amino acids and fatty acids, including lauric acid), and products with them receive positive results in palatability tests. Despite the existing literature data on the benefits of the use of insects as a protein source, their acceptance by consumers and animal caregivers remains problematic. In spite of the many advantages of using insects in pet food, it is necessary to analyze the risk of adverse food reactions, including allergic reactions that may be caused by insect consumption. Other hazards relate to the contamination of insects. For example, they can be contaminated with anthropogenic factors during breeding, packaging, cooking, or feeding. These contaminants include the presence of bacteria, mold fungi, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. However, insects can be used in the pet food industry. This is supported by the evolutionary adaptation of their wild ancestors to the eating of insects in the natural environment. The chemical composition of insects also corresponds to the nutritional requirements of dogs. It should be borne in mind that diets containing insect and their effects on animals require careful analysis. The aim of this article is to discuss the nutritional value of insects and their possible applications in the nutrition of companion animals, especially dogs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0d8c758122b943a4994ebc5bcec6b89f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:37:00Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-0d8c758122b943a4994ebc5bcec6b89f2023-11-23T15:14:22ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-06-011212151510.3390/ani12121515Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat?Jagoda Kępińska-Pacelik0Wioletta Biel1Department of Monogastric Animal Sciences, Division of Animal Nutrition and Food, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, PolandDepartment of Monogastric Animal Sciences, Division of Animal Nutrition and Food, West Pomeranian University of Technology in Szczecin, Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, PolandDue to the increasing global population, the world cannot currently support the well-known techniques of food production due to their harmful effects on land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. The key answer is a solution based on the use of edible insects. They have always been present in the diet of animals. They are characterized by a very good nutritional value (e.g., high protein content and contents of essential amino acids and fatty acids, including lauric acid), and products with them receive positive results in palatability tests. Despite the existing literature data on the benefits of the use of insects as a protein source, their acceptance by consumers and animal caregivers remains problematic. In spite of the many advantages of using insects in pet food, it is necessary to analyze the risk of adverse food reactions, including allergic reactions that may be caused by insect consumption. Other hazards relate to the contamination of insects. For example, they can be contaminated with anthropogenic factors during breeding, packaging, cooking, or feeding. These contaminants include the presence of bacteria, mold fungi, mycotoxins, and heavy metals. However, insects can be used in the pet food industry. This is supported by the evolutionary adaptation of their wild ancestors to the eating of insects in the natural environment. The chemical composition of insects also corresponds to the nutritional requirements of dogs. It should be borne in mind that diets containing insect and their effects on animals require careful analysis. The aim of this article is to discuss the nutritional value of insects and their possible applications in the nutrition of companion animals, especially dogs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1515companion animal nutritionedible insectspet food productionnovel protein sourcenutritive valuesafety |
| spellingShingle | Jagoda Kępińska-Pacelik Wioletta Biel Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? Animals companion animal nutrition edible insects pet food production novel protein source nutritive value safety |
| title | Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? |
| title_full | Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? |
| title_fullStr | Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? |
| title_short | Insects in Pet Food Industry—Hope or Threat? |
| title_sort | insects in pet food industry hope or threat |
| topic | companion animal nutrition edible insects pet food production novel protein source nutritive value safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/12/1515 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jagodakepinskapacelik insectsinpetfoodindustryhopeorthreat AT wiolettabiel insectsinpetfoodindustryhopeorthreat |