Triggs Anna, Bless Ishka, Danner Lukas, Saarela Maria, Wilkinson Kerry
School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Agriculture and Food, 671 Sneydes Rd, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia.
Insects. 2025 Mar 11;16(3):290. doi: 10.3390/insects16030290.
Insect-based dog food is increasingly becoming available in pet food markets, potentially offering environmental and nutritional benefits, depending on insect species and how they are reared, processed, and utilized. However, there is limited understanding of dog owners' attitudes towards the use of insects as protein alternatives for dogs. An online survey was conducted to explore Australian dog owners' ( = 201) attitudes towards insect-based pet food, segmenting participants according to their food neophobia, previous insect consumption, and dog-human relationship. Participants' dog food purchases were highly influenced by perceived health/nutrition, palatability, and product quality, with these factors being of most importance to 'dog people' (i.e., participants with closer relationships with their dogs). Participants were reasonably accepting of insect-based pet food made from mealworms and crickets and slightly accepting of products made from black soldier fly larvae. In contrast, participants' responses to plant-based pet foods were neutral. Food neophiles, and to a lesser extent, insect-eating consumers (i.e., those who had previously eaten insects), were found to be more willing to feed their dogs insects in comparison to non-neophiles and non-insect-eating consumers. Overall, Australian dog owners appear to be supportive of feeding their dogs diets supplemented with insect protein. Insights from this study will help inform the development and marketing of insect-based pet foods.
以昆虫为原料的狗粮在宠物食品市场上越来越常见，根据昆虫种类以及它们的饲养、加工和利用方式，可能会带来环境和营养方面的益处。然而，对于狗主人对将昆虫用作狗的蛋白质替代品的态度，人们了解有限。开展了一项在线调查，以探究澳大利亚狗主人（n = 201）对以昆虫为原料的宠物食品的态度，根据他们对食物的新恐惧症、以前是否食用过昆虫以及人与狗的关系对参与者进行分类。参与者购买狗粮时，很大程度上受到对健康/营养、适口性和产品质量的认知影响，这些因素对“爱狗人士”（即与狗关系更亲密的参与者）最为重要。参与者对由黄粉虫和蟋蟀制成的以昆虫为原料的宠物食品比较接受，对由黑水虻幼虫制成的产品略有接受。相比之下，参与者对植物性宠物食品的反应较为中立。与非新恐惧症者和非食用昆虫的消费者相比，食物新恐惧症者以及在较小程度上食用昆虫的消费者（即那些以前吃过昆虫的人）更愿意给他们的狗喂食昆虫。总体而言，澳大利亚狗主人似乎支持给他们的狗喂食添加了昆虫蛋白的饮食。这项研究的见解将有助于为以昆虫为原料的宠物食品的开发和营销提供信息。
