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"Environmental impacts of food consumption by companion dogs and cats in Japan"

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"Environmental impacts of food consumption by companion dogs and cats in Japan"

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By Bingtao Su

https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/bingtao-su

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Abstract

In Japan, there are more than 20 million companion dogs and cats that consume resources. Yet, little is known about their environmental impacts and the related energy policies aiming to reduce such impacts. In this study, we quantified Japanese companion dogs and cats' environmental impacts regarding their food consumptions. More specifically, we analyzed their dietary "ecological paw print" (EPP), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy consumption. Our results showed that the dietary EPP of an average-sized dog was 0.33-2.19 ha per year, which was equivalent to one Japanese people's dietary "ecological footprint" (EF) in a year. The dietary EPP of an average-sized cat was lower with 0.32-0.56 ha per year. All companion dogs and cats in Japan could consume about 3.6-15.6% of the amount of food that Japanese people do and release 2.5-10.7 million tons of GHG through their diet in a year. Many companion animals (particularly medium-sized and large dogs) consumed more energy than they actually needed to sustain their normal activity. By providing direct data on food consumption, this study gained an insight into the future of possible energy policies to reduce Japanese companion animals' environmental impacts.

Introduction

Achieving sustainability has become an issue of global concern for policy and decision makers as a result of the realization of the impacts the activities of humans have on the environment (Alshuwaikhat and Abubakar, 2008). Sustainability can be described as providing sufficient energy and resources required to maintain good health in a population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their resource needs (Mani et al., 2016, Ahmadi et al., 2017). Over the last few decades, Japan has witnessed a substantial growth in its economic development, which, in turn, has increased the national demand for energy. Therefore, Japan has also witnessed a large environmental degradation problem (Rafindadi, 2016). While the nexus of the relationship between environmental degradation and energy consumption has been thoroughly studied by Japanese researchers (Galli et al., 2014, Iguchi and Koga, 2015, Lilja et al., 2015, Rafindadi, 2016), very few studies have been conducted documenting animals especially companion animals' environmental impacts and their correlation with sustainable development.

Dogs and cats are the two most common household companion animals and they are an integral part of the human society in Japan (Su et al., 2018). They play an important role due to their positive impact on both the psychological and physical health of people with whom they have contact (Swanson et al., 2013, Su and Martens, 2017). Psychological benefits include reducing stress levels, increasing self-esteem in children and adolescents and decreasing depression associated with spousal loss. Physical benefits include increasing physical activity, reducing blood pressure and risk of heart disease and decreasing medical expenses (Allen et al., 1991, Serpell, 1991, Headey, 1999, Headey et al., 2002). For companion animal owners, feeding is a significant way of demonstrating a caring and loving relationship with their animals (Fleeman and Owens, 2007). Many companion animal owners prefer to give their animals nutrients in excess of minimum recommendations, or use ingredients that compete directly with the human food system, which presents challenges in optimizing the sustainability of the pet food system and pet ownership (Swanson et al., 2013). Therefore, it is imperative to quantify companion animals' environmental impacts and evaluate how the pet food system can sustainably support the nutrition of the growing population of companion animals not only in Japan but also in other countries.

The "Ecological Footprint" (EF) is a mature aggregated indicator of environmental sustainability (Rees, 1992, Wackernagel, 1994, Wackernagel and Rees, 1998). It is often used for the analysis of human demand on natural resources and it capsulizes a wide range of environmental data into a single indicator (Ulucak and Lin, 2017). According to its definition, the EF is the amount of land that would be required to provide the resources and absorb the emissions of humanity (Wackernagel and Rees, 1998, González-Vallejo et al., 2015). The dietary "Ecological Paw Print" (EPP) was originated from the EF, and it indicates the amount of land that would be required to provide the food resources for animals.

In Japan, there are more than 20.3 million companion dogs and cats that consume, as a significant portion of their diet, animal products and thus potentially constitute a considerable dietary EPP, greenhouse gas (GHG) emission and energy consumption (Keyzer et al., 2005, Swanson et al., 2013, Mullis et al., 2015, Okin, 2017). Animal production, compared to plant crops, requires greater land to produce equivalent protein energy and contributes to more GHG emissions and soil erosion (Wirsenius et al., 2010, Tilman et al., 2011, Okin, 2017). Given the significant environmental impact of meat production, prior studies have reported the enormous energy requirement of dogs and cats (Bermingham et al., 2010, Swanson et al., 2013, Bermingham et al., 2014, Mullis et al., 2015, Okin, 2017). Results showed that the resource consumption by dogs and cats could result in significant environmental impacts, such as GHG emission and feces production. The energy consumption of dogs and cats in the United States is equivalent to one-fifth of the US population' energy consumption (Okin, 2017). Further studies show that the EPP of a cat is equal to 2% of the average British person's EF (Ravilious, 2009), while the dietary EPP of some large dog breeds is as high as the EF for individuals in some undeveloped countries in the world (Vale and Vale, 2009, Schwartz, 2014). Additionally, due to the overfeeding, animal obesity has become a common health problem of dogs and cats, with the consequence of food waste and environmental degradation (Fleeman and Owens, 2007, Linder and Freeman, 2010, Swanson et al., 2013, Okin, 2017). Nevertheless, very few studies aim to investigate the dietary EPP and GHG emissions of companion animals from energy policy perspectives, particularly in Asian countries, such as Japan.

This study was designed to quantify the dietary EPP, GHG emissions, and energy requirement for companion dogs and cats in Japan. The goal of this study was to evaluate the scale of these animals' dietary resource consumption and to gain an insight into the future of possible energy policies in order to reduce their environmental impacts. The number of companion dogs and cats is increasing in Japan, and simultaneously a trend toward increasing meat quantity and quality in pet foods has occurred. As a possible consequence, the potential environmental impacts of companion dogs and cats might increase, which will eventually influence Japanese sustainable development in a negative way. Through this study, we aim to improve companion animal owners and even the whole Japanese people's awareness of environmental protection, to provide policy recommendations, and to balance companion animals' mission in emotional value creation and influence on environmental degradation.

Section snippets

The dietary ecological footprint (paw print) of companion dogs and cats

The method used to calculate the dietary EPP of companion animals in Japan was the componential method based on the calculation of the EF (Wackernagel and Rees, 1998). The EF is an indicator for quantifying man-land relations from the perspective of human consumption and is therefore a demand-side calculation method (Ferng, 2014). Calculating the EF from the perspective of population consumption demand is one of the most important components of the "Ecological Footprint Analysis" (EFA) approach

Animal demographics

In total, 546 completed surveys were received (63.0% from dog owners and 37.0% from cat owners). The information that we collected from companion dog and cat owners includes their animals' species, gender, age, size, food consumption, health condition, sterilization condition and activity time (Table 4).

The individual dietary ecological paw print (EPP) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of companion dog and cat in Japan

Our results showed a range of dietary EPP and GHG emissions of companion dogs and cats regarding their commercial dry food. On the whole, dogs (particularly medium-sized and large dogs) have a

Discussion

The Japanese national EF accounts show that household resource consumption is in a state of overshoot, demanding more capacity than the biosphere can supply each year. Companion animals provide important therapeutic, physiological and psychological benefits to humans and nowadays they are often regarded as family members by their owners (Okin, 2017). Their various activities taking place within families exaggerate household resource consumption and may have some serious direct and indirect

Conclusions and policy implications

This study quantified the environmental impacts of companion dogs and cats in Japan, with a focus on the dietary EPP, GHG emissions and energy consumption. Our results demonstrate that companion dogs and cats in Japan consumed a significant amount of food resources, resulting in negative environmental impacts such as the huge GHG emissions. Overfeeding and food waste might be a common phenomenon in dog- and cat-owning households in Japan, which inevitably aggravate the burden of environmentally

Acknowledgements

We thank the reviewers for their valuable comments; these improved the paper. We thank Dr. Naoko Koda for her help in some data collection. We thank all the dog and cat owners for their participation in the survey.

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Environmental impacts of food consumption by companion dogs and cats in Japan

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In Japan, there are more than 20 million companion dogs and cats that consume resources. Yet, little is known about their environmental impacts and th...

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What is the negative impact of pet food production on the environment, and how can it be mitigated?

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Bermingham, Emma N., et al. “Energy requirements of adult cats.” British Journal of Nutrition, 26 Jan. 2010, https://doi.org/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/energy-requirements-of-adult-cats/225A91E97C8B94CAB4A5BF0646EFA2A2#.

Eshel, Gidon, and Pamela A Martin. “Diet, Energy, and Global Warming.” Earth Interactions, 1 Apr. 2006, pp. 1–17, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1175/EI167.1.

Galli, Alessandro, et al. “Ecological Footprint: Implications for biodiversity.” Biological Conservation, May 2014, pp. 121–132, https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.10.019.

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The process of making food for animals results in high levels of greenhouse emissions. As the population of pets continues to grow, so will pet food consumption, which harms the environment—the greenhouse emissions of pet food production range in millions of tons.

"We examined the GHG emissions associated with companion animals’ daily diets and the results demonstrate that all companion dogs and cats in Japan release 2.52 to 10.70 million tons of GHG through their diet in a year, which is equivalent to 1% to 4% (one to five million) Japanese people’s environmental impacts according to their annual diet" (Su).

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"1. Grinding & Mixing...

2. Preparation...

3. Cooking and Extrusion...

4. Drying...

5. Coating...

6. Cooling...

7. Packaging" (Sebastien)

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How We Produce Our Dry Pet Food | Purina

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Follow our process of dry pet food production, from the initial grinding and mixing of ingredients all the way to packaging and final quality checks.

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Pet Food Production: The Negative Impacts

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Pet Food Production: The Negative Impacts

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“According to one estimate, if all the dogs and cats in America formed their own country it would “rank fifth in global meat consumption” (Kaufman).

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Regulators strive to keep our animal companions' food safe, but gaps remain.

Fretting over food for your furry friend? You are not alone. An explosion of pet food options in the past decade-plant-based, vegetarian, natural, organic, gluten-free, grain-free, raw diet, novel protein, made in USA-has created an overwhelming number of choices.

Some brands market their pet food as better for older dogs or cats, while other brands target puppies and kittens. Still others claim their products are enriched with supplements such as "antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine and chondroitin." But do these labels really mean anything?

Consumers cannot have the same confidence in pet food labels that they do in labels for food made for human consumption. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) of 1938, administered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was the first major federal legislation aimed at ensuring the safety and proper labeling of both human and animal food. But the law's pet food provisions contain ambiguous terms and provide for limited oversight of the pet food industry.

Today, that industry is big business. Private-equity groups and mega-corporations gobble up brands such as Purina, Iams, Milk-Bone, and Eukanuba. The American Pet Products Association estimates that pet food and treat sales amounted to nearly $40 billion in 2019, with dog food comprising the bulk of sales. According to one estimate, if all the dogs and cats in America formed their own country it would "rank fifth in global meat consumption."

In the late 1960s, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)-a nonprofit organization that sets "voluntary manufacturing and labeling guidelines" for pet food producers-tried to address some of the FDCA's shortcomings and suggested more precise definitions and standards. The AAFCO continues to develop pet food safety and labeling standards. But because participation in the organization is voluntary, pet food producers are free to ignore the model regulations.

Many states have adopted the AAFCO Model Regulations for Pet Food, but compliance with these laws vary because local officials conduct all enforcement.

Calls for federal involvement in pet food regulation increased in 2007 after tainted ingredients imported from China killed over a dozen dogs and cats and sickened thousands of others. Four years later, Congress passed the Food Safety and Modernization Act (FSMA). This law expanded FDA's power to issue pet food regulations.

One key provision of the FSMA, referred to as the Preventive Controls for Animal Food Rule, requires that pet food producers comply with "current good manufacturing practices." But these good manufacturing practices-which include cleaning, pest control, and record-keeping guidelines- establish only minimum pet food safety and sanitation standards. Moreover, certain producers, such as home-based and " very small" pet food manufacturers, remain exempt from compliance, although state and local regulations may apply to them.

Proponents of the FSMA claim that tethering pet food safety and sanitation standards to current good manufacturing practices was a legislative "stroke of genius." These supporters argue this connection gives manufacturers flexibility to incorporate innovative technology and determine for themselves which safety controls to implement to ensure compliance.

But the Pet Food Institute-members of which comprise nearly the entire U.S. pet food industry-maintains that although the FSMA is a step in the right direction, FDA has not provided sufficient guidance. The Institute also suggests that funding shortages hinder federal oversight and stymie state regulators who "shoulder much of FSMA compliance and enforcement responsibilities."

Pet food does not require pre-market approval from FDA. The agency, however, requires that certain ingredients known as "food additives" receive approval before brands may use them in food products. But FDA defines food additives generally: as "any substance that directly or indirectly becomes a component of a food or that affects a food's characteristics."

Pet food manufacturers can sidestep FDA's processes evaluating ingredients that fall under food additives' broad coverage by using substances that are "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS). To obtain GRAS approval, a substance must either have existed in animal food before 1958 and commonly used since, or demonstrate its safety through a scientific study in a reputable journal.

FDA claims that the GRAS standard "is actually harder to meet than the standard required for food additives." But it is ultimately up to individual pet food manufacturers to assess whether each ingredient meets the GRAS standard or should be categorized as a "food additive." And some ingredients that originally met the GRAS standard-such as propylene glycol-have been later found to be dangerous to pets and have been prohibited by FDA.

After production, pet food is also subject to labeling requirements under FDA and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Under FDA regulations, pet food labeling must list certain percentages of named ingredients, the manufacturer's name and address, and feeding directions based on the animal's weight.

In addition, the FTC had issued the Dog and Cat Food Guides in 1999, which explained what counts as a misrepresentation in pet food labels and advertisements. These misrepresentations included a manufacturer's false claim that its pet food won an award and an erroneous assertion that its pet food is "fit for human consumption," but the FTC considered these guidelines as too repetitive of existing advertising standards and rescinded them in the same year.

Although nearly 80 percent of American pet owners claim "the quality of their pets' food is as important as their own," the comparative lack of pet food regulations suggests that pets may receive the shorter end of the stick. In 2019, FDA identified 16 dog food brands that possibly caused heart failure in dogs. And last fall, FDA issued another recall after the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry found certain pet foods contained unsafe levels of a toxin, even though no legal enforcement authorities suspect the manufacturers violated any existing regulation.

Although FDA seems willing to exercise its regulatory muscle recently by recalling potentially dangerous pet food, some veterinarians call for additional research into the safety of pet food ingredients-hoping to stop harmful products from reaching consumers in the first place.

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Pet Food Regulations May Be More Bark Than Bite | The Regulatory Review

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Regulators strive to keep our animal companions' food safe, but gaps remain.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) creates the regulations for pet food in the USA, and the regulations for pet food follow rules similar to those for human food (“Pet food”).

It must be safe to eat (“Pet food”).

Made in a clean environment (“Pet food”).

Contains no harmful chemicals (“Pet food”).

Labels on food must be accurate (“Pet food”).

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates pet food similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms, see Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 113 (21 CFR 113). For more information about low-acid canned foods, see Acidified & Low-Acid Canned Foods Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information.

FDA Regulation of Pet Food

FDA ensures that the ingredients used in pet food are safe and have an appropriate function in the pet food. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry, and grains are considered safe and do not require pre-market approval. Other substances, such as sources of minerals, vitamins or other nutrients, flavorings, preservatives, or processing aids may be Generally Recognized As Safe for an intended use (21 CFR 582 and 584) or must have approval as food additives (21 CFR 570, 571 and 573). Colorings must have approvals for such use as specified in 21 CFR 70 and be listed in Parts 73, 74, or 81. For more information about pet foods and marketing a pet food, see FDA's Regulation of Pet Food and Information on Marketing a Pet Food Product.

Labeling

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The current FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name, and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and proper listing of all the ingredients in the product from most to least, based on weight. Some states also enforce their own labeling regulations. Many of these regulations are based on a model provided by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For more information about AAFCO, please visit its website.

FDA also reviews specific claims on pet food, such as "maintains urinary tract health," "low magnesium," and "hairball control." Guidance for collecting data to make a urinary tract health claim is available in Guideline 55 on the CVM portion of the FDA internet site.

CVM DOES NOT recommend one product over another or offer guidance on individual pet health issues that are normally provided by the pet's veterinarian. Questions regarding your pets' health and/or the specific use of any veterinary drug, pet food, or other product should always be referred to your veterinarian.

Recalls & Reporting Problems

Guidance Documents

Federal Register Notices

Additional Information

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Information about FDA regulation of pet food.

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https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/lax-pet-food-safety-regulations-put-humans-at-risk/256920/

Due to the lack of stricter regulations, salmonella can be found in pet food; from the pet eating, the food could pass the bacteria to its owner or other people (Nestle).

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“Ecological Footprint” (EF): The impact a person has on the environment (OED).

“Ecological Footprint Analysis” (EFA): The tool to estimate resource consumption and waste corresponding to productive land use (Ecological Footprint Analysis).

Dietary “Ecological Paw Print” (EPP): Similar to EF, dietary EPP is the land needed to produce animal food (Martens).

Bio-productive Land: This is land that is capable of supporting and sustaining the production of organic material (Glossary).

Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER): The amount of energy your body needs to keep the body in ​​homeostasis and active and moving (Mullis).

Resting Energy Requirement (RER): The amount of energy needed to keep the body in homeostasis (Estimated Energy Requirements).

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“Ecological Footprint Analysis.” Ecological Footprint Analysis - an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/ecological-footprint-analysis#:~:text=Ecological%20footprint%20analysis%3A%20is%20an,of%20corresponding%20productive%20land%20use.

“Ecological Footprint.” OED Oxford English Dictionary, www.oed.com/dictionary/ecological-footprint_n?tab=meaning_and_use.

“Estimated Energy Requirements.” Wilmot Veterinary Clinic, 2016.

“Glossary.” Global Footprint Network, 11 May 2020, www.footprintnetwork.org/resources/glossary/#:~:text=in%20global%20hectares.-,biologically%20productive%20land%20and%20water,patchy%20vegetation%20are%20not%20included.

Martens, Pim, et al. "The Ecological Paw Print of Companion Dogs and Cats." BioScience, vol. 69, no. 6, 2019, pp. 467-474, https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biz044.

Mullis, Rebecca A, et al. “Maintenance Energy Requirements of Odor Detection, Explosive Detection and Human Detection Working Dogs.” PeerJ, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 24 Feb. 2015, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4349026/#:~:text=Maintenance%20energy%20requirements%20(MER)%20describe,metabolism%20and%20digestion%20of%20foods.

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https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0181301

If the energy that is made in pet food was made into human food that would, this would equal “the entire energy requirement of almost 5 million Americans” (Okin).

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If it is known that the current production of pet food harms the environment, why is there nothing being done about it?

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If it is known that the current production of pet food harms the environment, why is there nothing being done about it?

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"there is evidence that it [putting dogs on plant-based diets} can be done safely however many veterinarians are still reluctant to encourage owners to switch their dogs to plant-based diets because of how easily essential nutrients can be missed" (Graham).

"In one study carried out to investigate the market potential of cultivated meat in pet foods, it was found that although only 32.5 percent of people would consider eating cultivated meat themselves, 47.3 percent would be willing to feed cultivated meat to their pet" (Graham).

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When the production of the first foods specifically formulated for pets began in the 1800s, the pet food industry was born. Since then, this industry has seen substantial growth, and is today worth $57 billion U.S. dollars.The conditions under which pet food is produced has significant environmental implications, leading to questions about its long-term sustainability, and the future of the pet food industry.

Just as an increasing human population is placing strain on our own food production and contributing to the global climate crisis, so is our increasing pet population. In the United States, for example, 66 percent of households now own a pet; an increase of 10 percent since 1988. Supplying the amount of food required to feed these animals is no easy task.

As meat and meat byproducts are some of the most common ingredients in pet food manufacturing, the pet food industry relies heavily on animal agriculture, an industry that is responsible for 16.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. As with human food production, meat-based pet diets require more energy to produce, are responsible for greater land usage and have a higher water footprint than plant-based diets.

In a study carried out to investigate the environmental impact of cat and dog food production, it was found that pet feeds containing meat are responsible for 25-30 percent of the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

This raises questi ons around the sustainability of the pet food industry and suggests changes are needed if we are to be able to continue providing sufficient food for our ever-growing number of pets. Potential solutions to reduce the environmental impact of the pet food industry include using human food waste in pet food, using insect protein as an alternative to animal protein, and more investment in developing plant-based pet foods and cultivated meat pet foods.

How Big Is the Pet Food Industry?

In 2022, the global pet care industry was worth over $235 billion U.S. dollars. The pet food market takes one of the largest shares of this; in 2022, pet food sales worldwide reached $134 billion.

Following an increase in pet ownership over the last few decades, and a particular surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's currently estimated that around 86.9 million U.S. households have at least one pet. The majority of these are dogs and cats, but l ess commonly kept pets include birds, horses, fish, reptiles, poultry, rabbits and other small mammals. The pet food industry provides for all of these, and is expected to produce 59.5 billion kilograms of food in 2028.

How the Pet Food Industry Fuels Meat Industry Profits

Many of the main ingredients in cat and dog food are animal-derived, creating substantial links between the pet food industry and animal agriculture. Initially the pet food industry only sourced its ingredients from byproducts of the meat industry, but with increasing demand for higher-quality and premium brands of pet food, this is no longer the case. It is estimated that up to 30 percent of the animals raised and killed by intensive agriculture in the U.S. may be intended specifically for pet food production.

Can You Feed Your Pet a Plant-Based Diet?

The human plant-based food market has seen significant growth in recent years and is predicted to be worth $35.9 billion by 2033. As pet owners become more aware of the environmental impact of animal-based food products and the animal welfare issues involved, many are faced with a dilemma about what to feed their pets. Different species of animals have unique nutritional needs, so providing some of our pets with adequate nutrition on a plant-based diet can be a challenge.

Dogs are omnivorous animals, meaning they would naturally consume both plant and animal matter. This makes many cautious about the idea of dogs being fed on purely plant-based diets. Yet there is evidence that it can be done safely however many veterinarians are still reluctant to encourage owners to switch their dogs to plant-based diets because of how easily essential nutrients can be missed.

A completely vegan diet becomes even more difficult when it comes to cats. Cats are unable to produce some proteins themselves and have to absorb them from their diets. An example of this is taurine, which if missing from a cat's diet can lead to a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy. However, this does not make it impossible for cats to live healthily without consuming animal sources of protein, though it requires a very specifically formulated plant-based diet. Still, some cat owners have reported success: a recent study surveyed cat owners and found those feeding their cats a vegan diet reported fewer vet visits.

Is Cultivated Pet Food the Future of the Industry?

One potential alternative in pet food manufacturing is using cultivated meat. Cultivated meats, also known as lab-grown meats, are biologically the same as animal meat and are produced by removing a small sample of stem cells from an animal, and growing and developing these cells until usable meat is grown.

In one study carried out to investigate the market potential of cultivated meat in pet foods, it was found that although only 32.5 percent of people would consider eating cultivated meat themselves, 47.3 percent would be willing to feed cultivated meat to their pet. The main concern raised from owners around feeding cultivated meat to their pet was whether it was nutritionally complete, suggesting they would be open to it as long as they could be assured it would still provide their pet with the essential nutrients they need. Indeed, cultivated pet food companies believe their food would be even healthier, by limiting potential allergens and contaminants.

When producing cultivated meats, a key challenge faced by companies is achieving regulatory approval. Contrary to what you might think, cultivated meat for pet food is more tightly regulated than cultivated meat for human consumption. Since animals are eating the same product every day, they are completely reliant on it for the nutrients it provides.

Another issue is found in its cost. Although we've come a long way from the first lab-grown burger that cost $330,000 to produce, cultivated meat is still very expensive. Even with large-scale production, it would cost approximately $63 to produce one kilogram of cultivated meat, compared to one kilogram of beef that in 2022 cost under six dollars.

Is Plant-Based Dog Food Really Healthier?

If not done carefully, feeding a dog on a plant-based diet can easily lead to them missing out on essential nutrients. But if it is done correctly, a plant-based diet can even be healthier than a more typical meat-based diet. This was demonstrated in a study carried out by Professor Andrew Knight at the University of Winchester in 2022. The study found that dogs fed on a nutritionally adequate vegan diet suffered less health issues than those fed a diet containing meat.

Understanding Pet Nutritional Needs

Pet food is any food specifically produced to meet a cat, dog or other pet's nutritional needs. But there are limited regulations around the precise nutritional provision of a manufactured pet food. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act requires that pet foods be produced under sanitary conditions, not contain harmful substances, be safe for the pet to eat and be accurately labelled.

These labels, however, may not have much meaning to owners. Without in-depth knowledge of the specific nutritional requirements of their pets, many pet owners are left unsure about the extent to which they are actually meeting their pet's nutritional requirements. A feed can be labeled as "complete" or "balanced," two very different terms not necessarily understood by pet owners. The Association of American Feed Control Officials considers a complete feed to be one that contains all the nutrients the animal requires, and a balanced feed to be one that contains the correct balance of nutrients, but not necessarily all the nutrients the animal needs. Missing out on essential nutrients or being fed incorrect portion sizes because their owners don't completely understand what they are feeding their pets, can have impacts on an animal's health.

Common Health Issues Related to Diet

With as many as 50 percent of dogs overweight in North America, obesity is one of the most prevalent health issues in dogs today. Although physical exercise is important in the management of obesity in pets, a healthy diet and correct portion control are considered the most important factors. Other common diet-related health issues in dogs include skin issues if their diet is lacking in essential fatty acids, or pancreatitis due to high amounts of fat in their diet.

Prescription Diets and Veterinary Recommendations

The majority of veterinary organizations, such as the British Veterinary Association, remain reluctant to endorse vegan pet food, and feel that more robust research is required. Although there is now evidence that vegan diets may be a healthier option for our pets, many feel more research is needed into the long-term impact of plant-based diets on an animal's health.

Prescription diets are recommended by veterinarians for pets suffering from a range of health conditions. Because of the lack of research into the long-term effects of being fed on purely a plant-based diet, there are currently no plant-based prescription diets for dogs or cats.

The Bottom Line

The future of the pet food industry isn't all that different from our own food industry. While the pet food industry is a lucrative one, it also must continue to adapt if it is to become sustainable. What is clear is that there is a need for more humane food systems with less harmful environmental impact. Plant-based and cultivated meat pet food options require investment, just as they do in the human food market.

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The Pet Food Industry's Future, from Plant-Based to Cultivated Meat

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What dogs and cats eat is big business - and has a huge environmental footprint.

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"Acknowledging their negative impacts on the environment does not mean neglecting their emotional bond with humans. Similarly, the positive relationship between companion animals and owners may not be an acceptable reason for ignoring their negative environmental impacts (Rastogi, 2010). Therefore, the government should re-construct their companion animal keeping policies, pet food industries should re-formulate their feeding directions and companion animal owners should re-think their husbandry activities in order to contribute to sustainable development at national and even global levels" (Su).

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How does overfeeding and over weight pets impact the environment?

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How does overfeeding and over weight pets impact the environment?

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"Veterinary as a professional practitioner should play a more comprehensive role in avoiding overfeeding and reducing companion animals’ environmental impacts by providing specific information about animals’ energy requirement" (Su).

"[Pet's] size has an important impact on food consumption, as well as the dietary EPP and GHG emissions, the larger the dogs, the more the food consumption and the stronger the environmental impacts" (Su).

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The author of the text understands and recognizes that although pets, because of the food they eat, hurt the environment, they still acknowledge that pets like cats and dogs positively affect people. The number of pets is increasing very fast, which the author recognizes as a threat as a growing pet population can harm the environment. A lot of people depend on pets for numerous reasons, so lessening the number of pets is not the solution suggested by the author but instead, the author takes a stand that demands a change in the way that pet food production is regulated.