Purina Launches Spent Brewery Grain Dog Treats Trial in Netherlands
Purina PetCare has launched a six-week trial in the Netherlands, introducing dog treats made from spent brewery grains. This innovative product aims to reduce waste and offers a more sustainable option for pet owners.
The F.L. Emmert Company, a key player in this initiative, uses brewers yeast to create pet food and livestock feed ingredients. This process helps divert waste from landfills, contributing to a greener environment.
Experts like Greg Aldrich, PhD, from Kansas State University, praise the potential of next-generation DDGs in boosting cat food palatability. These DDGs, derived from dried distillers grains, can provide proteins and amino acids, potentially replacing animal byproducts in pet food formulations.
Purina plans to assess consumer reactions during the trial to decide on future deployment and scale-up of the spent brewery grain dog treat. The company believes upcycling surplus grains from breweries not only reduces waste but also offers a sustainable option for consumers.
In Germany, companies like Futter** and ReBowl are already producing upcycled dog food from beer industry leftovers. Spent grains have been used as pet food ingredients for years, with the term 'upcycling' being a more recent concept.
The trial of spent brewery grain dog treats by Purina highlights the potential of upcycling in the pet food industry. If successful, it could lead to more sustainable pet food options, reducing waste, and providing nutritional benefits for pets.
