News & Press

Animal welfare beats sustainability in pet food purchases

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:37:00 GMT

Both academic research and industry discussion have pointed out that animal welfare may be one of strongest marketing tools to influence consumer behavior.

Human food-pet food convergence: A look at longevity

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:53:00 GMT

Eating to foster a longer, healthier life is an emerging growth category for both humans and pets, one of many that crosses over between human food and pet food.

$158B: US pet industry maintains steady growth through 2025

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:52:00 GMT

Food and veterinary services dominate spending as the market increases 3.7% year-on-year.

Alltech: Global pet food production slows

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:56:00 GMT

After several years of significant expansion, global pet food production slowed in 2025, according to Alltech’s 2026 Agri-Food Outlook report. The company attributed this slowdown to normalization in the North American market following expansive growth driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Global pet food tonnage reached 39.28 million tonnes in 2025, an increase of 2.4% (917,000 tonnes) from 38.36 million tonnes in 2024. For reference, tonnage increased 4.5% from 2023 to 2024.

Nature’s nutrients: Using fruits and veggies in pet nutrition

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:50:00 GMT

Results from a year-long study at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and College of Agriculture and Life Science, Ithaca, NY, suggest that feeding dogs “fresh, human-grade” food can positively influence metabolic health and support healthier aging. These findings, published in the October 2025 issue of Metabolites, support the pet food humanization movement, which is fueled by the mantra of “what’s good for me must be good for my pet.” That makes the directive to “eat vegetables and fruits throughout the day, focusing on whole forms” in the recently published Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, relevant to the pet food industry.

Nature’s nutrients: Using fruits and veggies in pet nutrition

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:50:00 GMT

10 takeaways: How human wellness trends are reshaping pet food innovation

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:25:00 GMT

During a recent podcast, Kevin Ryan of Malachite Strategy explained how consumer tribes, the human-pet bond and food anthropology are accelerating trend transfer from human food to pet food.

Pet prices hit record highs as March 'petflation' grows to 4.3%

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:19:00 GMT

Petflation now stands at 3.3 times the 2024-to-2025 rate, is 30.3% above the current national CPI and is 43.3% higher than the 3.0% average March rate recorded since 1997. Pet prices are 33.8% above 2019 pre-pandemic levels and 29% above 2021 levels.

Producers Moving Towards EPR Readiness

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 17:20:00 GMT

With about six months to go until the first extended producer responsibility program for packaging in the U.S. goes live, producers are still largely unprepared but moving in the right direction, those monitoring the transition said.

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AFDO Infographics Illustrate State-Level Impact of FDA’s Proposed Budget Cuts

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 03:49:00 GMT

AFDO Infographics Illustrate State-Level Impact of FDA’s Proposed Budget Cuts

In its FY25 budget proposal, FDA has proposed cutting resources to state and local programs by $34 million, from over $117 million to $83 million.

The Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) has developed infographics that illustrate the potential impact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) proposed budget cuts could have on food safety at the state level. In its FY25 budget proposal, FDA has proposed cutting resources to state and local programs by $34 million, from over $117 million to $83 million.

The infographics can be viewed here:

Manufactured Food Impacts
Produce Safety Impacts
AFDO also shared an infographic from the Association of Public Health Laboratories showing the potential impact on laboratory operations that can be viewed here.

Pet Food Institute raises concerns over KSUO proposal for new ingredient approval process

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 02:04:00 GMT

Pet Food Institute raises concerns over KSUO proposal for new ingredient approval process

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) has raised concerns in their comment submitted to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), about a proposal from Kansas State University Olathe (KSUO) to establish a new regulatory pathway for approving animal food ingredients. PFI highlighted several issues it believes could affect ingredient safety, consistency, and regulatory acceptance.

KSUO’s proposal aims to create a scientific review panel that would oversee animal food ingredient approvals, potentially replacing the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AAFCO and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PFI stated that while it does not fully oppose the proposal, it has concerns about how the new approach might impact the pet food industry.

One major concern is the potential conflict of interest due to KSUO’s funding from industry partners. PFI warned that this could lead to perceptions of bias, which might undermine the credibility of ingredient reviews.

PFLM is Coming. Are Your Labels Modern & Compliant?

Fri, 1 Nov 2024 14:53:00 GMT

PFLM is Coming. Are Your Labels Modern & Compliant?

s your pet food label ready to comply with AAFCO’s latest recommendations? PFLM is on the horizon, and if you aren’t prepared your products are at risk!

As a trusted partner in the pet food space, Pet Food Compliance can design your modern AAFCO-approved label and support your complete compliance.

Why ‘sustainability’ is a critical strategy for pet food manufacturers

Thu, 5 Sep 2024 23:02:00 GMT

Why ‘sustainability’ is a critical strategy for pet food manufacturers

When creating new pet foods and treats, manufacturers must remember that it’s important to think about how their production impacts the environment, as well as how it meets pet owners' concerns about sustainability.

It’s a delicate but necessary tightrope to balance on, said Allison Reser, director of Sustainability & Innovation with the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC).

“Investing in sustainable sourcing and production is a critical long-term strategy for pet food manufacturers,” she said. “At its core, the pet food industry relies heavily on natural resources like farms, crops and animal agriculture. Any practice that degrades these resources is risky for the industry’s future. Sustainable and regenerative practices ensure that these resources remain viable for generations to come, securing the future of the industry.”