For pet food brands developing products for dogs with food sensitivities, itchy skin, or chronic skin conditions, the choice of protein ingredient is the most consequential formulation decision. The protein must solve two problems simultaneously: dogs need to actually want to eat the food — palatability is non-negotiable — and the protein itself must not be the source of the adverse reaction. Cricket protein powder (Acheta domesticus) addresses both requirements in a single,

For US pet food manufacturers considering cricket protein as a novel ingredient, understanding the regulatory landscape is the logical first step. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) — the body whose ingredient definitions govern pet food labelling and formulation across most US states — has established an ingredient definition for Dried Crickets (Acheta domesticus). This article explains exactly what that definition says, what it requires from ingredie