Shun NagaiOver the past few decades, human food has undergone major changes, with gluten-free, organic, and naturally sourced ingredients becoming increasingly popular. Meals have become fresher and healthier, and more consumers are choosing ingredients harvested from local farms.
So how have these health-conscious trends influenced pet food?
In this article, we explore five major trends showing how human food trends are impacting the pet food manufacturing industry, along with the defining features of each.
Grain-Free
Gluten-free labels have become a common sight in grocery stores across the country. Likewise, grain-free products now occupy a growing share of pet food shelves, and sales of grain-free dog food have surged.
As more people avoid carbohydrates and gluten in their own diets, pet food manufacturers have responded by replacing grains with ingredients such as potatoes, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes. However, there is still no clear conclusion as to whether grain-free diets are universally beneficial or not.
For example, some dogs may benefit from the high fiber content found in grains, while others may have food intolerances or allergies. This topic will likely remain debated among experts until further research clarifies the long-term effects on animal health.
Organic & GMO-Free
As organic food becomes more mainstream in grocery stores, GMO-free products are also gaining attention as part of the natural food movement. GMO-free products are those that do not contain genetically modified ingredients.
In the EU, products containing genetically modified crops are subject to specific rules and restrictions under the precautionary principle, based on concerns that they could potentially affect human health, even though definitive evidence remains limited. In other words, there is still no firm conclusion regarding their safety.
According to a market research report by Global Information, the organic pet food market was valued at USD 4.99154 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 9.09020 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 8.9%.
As pet humanization continues to advance, consumers who buy organic products for themselves also tend to make similar purchasing decisions for their pets. As a result, demand for organic and GMO-free products is rising.
The Use of Novel Protein Sources
While vegetarian foods have recently gained attention, protein itself has also become a major topic of discussion, with growing interest focused not only on how much protein is consumed, but also on what kind. In human diets, plant-based proteins are especially popular, and consumption of seafood, nuts, and dairy products is also expected to increase.
In pet food, however, dog and cat owners are seeking new protein sources that can satisfy their pets’ carnivorous instincts. One reason is that chicken, one of the most widely used animal protein sources in pet food, is already recognized in the industry as a major cause of food allergies in some pets.
In addition, pet owners want to offer their pets a wider variety of flavors. As a result, pet food manufacturers have begun introducing novel protein sources such as horse, rabbit, kangaroo, and crocodile.
Locally Sourced Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement, which began in the United States, has now spread into Japan’s food industry as well, increasing consumer demand for transparency regarding food ingredients and origin. In the pet food industry, interest in Japanese-made pet food rose significantly after the mass recalls involving Chinese-sourced ingredients in 2007.
Even products labeled as made in Japan may still contain imported ingredients such as vitamins and minerals. Nevertheless, pet food products made primarily with Japanese and locally sourced ingredients are attracting strong consumer interest in the Japanese market.
Minimal Processing in Manufacturing
As consumers increasingly prefer freshly prepared foods over heavily processed options such as instant meals, frozen foods, and retort-pouch products, pet owners have also started seeking minimally processed food for their pets, whom they consider part of the family.
Today’s health-conscious pet owners are looking for alternatives to conventional pet food, including dry dog food made with raw meat, fresh food, and freeze-dried pet food.
Many consumers are also drawn to pet food brands that openly disclose their manufacturing processes. As a result, pet food brands are demanding an unprecedented level of transparency from manufacturers.