Insect protein (Hermetia illucens)

Insect protein most often comes from the larva of the black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, used as an alternative protein source in some dog and cat foods. Its appeal is twofold: the larva offers a balanced amino acid profile and one of the highest amino acid scores among farmed insects, and insect farming uses fewer resources than conventional livestock, which drives the environmental argument. On the regulatory side, insect use in pet food has been framed within the European Union for several years, provided the rearing substrate is authorised, and EFSA judged that microbiological risks are comparable to those of other raw materials under controlled rearing (EFSA). Insect protein sometimes serves as a novel source in an [elimination diet](/glossary/elimination-diet), since few animals have been exposed to it, although clinical data remain limited compared with conventional proteins. The digestibility of an extruded food based on black soldier fly larvae has been studied and found satisfactory in work following FEDIAF guidance (Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 2021). A marker many overlook: insect chitin also supplies fibre, which can influence digestion. It belongs with [horse](/glossary/horse), [rabbit](/glossary/rabbit) and [venison](/glossary/venison-deer) among novel and alternative proteins explored across the [Petipedia glossary](/glossary), and its sustainability angle is increasingly part of premium positioning.

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