Black Soldier Fly Larvae in Pet Food

The pet food aisle is where most people will first encounter black soldier fly protein without going looking for it.

How It Got There

In the United States, an ingredient has to be defined before it can be used in a commercial feed, and AAFCO definitions have been extended to black soldier fly larvae in stages — salmonid feed first, then adult dog food, then poultry. Each step required its own submission and review.

Why Pet Food Specifically

Two reasons, and the second is the more interesting one.

Sustainability sells in this category. Pet food carries a real environmental footprint, largely because it is made of meat, and owners are receptive to alternatives.

Novel protein is a genuine clinical need. Food allergies in dogs and cats are usually reactions to a protein the animal has eaten before — chicken, beef, dairy. Veterinary elimination diets work by finding a protein the animal has never encountered. Insect protein is novel by definition, which makes it useful rather than merely fashionable.

What to Read on a Label

• Position in the list matters. Ingredients are listed by weight. BSFL third from the end is a marketing mention, not a protein source.
• "Insect protein" is vague. A label that names the species is telling you more than one that does not.
• Defatted meal is normal and not a downgrade — the fat is removed to control the fat content of the finished food.

For feeding BSFL directly rather than as an ingredient, see the complete BSFL guide.