Abstract
With a growing interest in pet health and environmentally friendly choices, many dog owners are exploring alternatives to traditional meat-based dog food. This study examined the labeling of plant-based, hybrid (plant and meat combined), and animal-based dog foods and compared their nutritional content and prices. We reviewed the labels of several dog food products sold in Europe between 2020 and 2024. We found that plant-based dog foods often have more fiber and minerals but usually contain less protein and fat, which are important for dogs’ health. Hybrid foods vary significantly depending on the amount of meat they contain, while traditional animal-based foods usually provide more protein and fat, especially in wet and dry types. We also noticed that plant-based and hybrid foods often include many additives, which might raise concerns regarding long-term dog health. In terms of cost, plant-based dog foods tend to be more expensive than other dog foods. These findings can help dog owners make better decisions and encourage pet food companies to improve their labeling and nutrition.
Generated Summary
This study investigates the nutritional adequacy and pricing of plant-based, hybrid, and animal-based dog foods available in the European market. The research analyzed product labels, ingredient compositions, and marketing claims of dog food products categorized as plant-based, hybrid (blending plant and animal ingredients), and animal-based. Using the Mintel database, the study examined products launched between 2020 and 2024, focusing on nutritional content, and pricing trends. The study aimed to identify differences in key nutrients such as protein, fiber, fat, ash, and moisture content among the three types of dog food. The methodology involved categorizing products based on ingredient composition, extracting nutritional information from product labels, and analyzing marketing claims. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was used to assess differences in nutritional composition and price. The research also explores the evolution of the dog food market, the influence of consumer preferences, and the environmental impact of food production, with a focus on how product labeling shapes purchasing decisions.
Key Findings & Statistics
- Market Penetration and Product Launch Trend:
- The dog pet food market from 1996 to 2005 was characterized by hybrid products with minimal animal- and plant-based options.
- Hybrid product launches ranged from 0 to 15 per year, peaking at 15 in 2005.
- Animal-based products emerged in 2004 and 2005, with one to three launches, while plant-based products were almost non-existent (one recorded in 2006).
- From 2006 to 2015, hybrid products grew consistently, with a sharp rise starting in 2010, peaking at 62 launches that year.
- Animal-based research increased steadily, growing from 49 launches in 2011 to 104 in 2014.
- Plant-based products remained rare, with one or two launches per year, except in 2015 (five plant-based products were launched).
- From 2016 to 2024, hybrid product launches saw exponential growth, rising from 160 in 2016 to 608 in 2024.
- In 2024, 272 animal-based products were launched, a decrease from the peak of 282 in 2019.
- The plant-based product segment experienced the most significant growth, with launches surging from nine in 2020 to 57 in 2024.
- By 2024, hybrid products still accounted for the largest share of launches (608), followed by animal-based (272) and plant-based (57) products.
- Launches of dog food products (2020-2024):
- Snacks and Treats: Animal-Based: 880 (30.6%), Hybrid: 1855 (64.5%), Plant-Based: 141 (4.9%).
- Wet food: Animal-Based: 479 (34.3%), Hybrid: 898 (64.3%), Plant-Based: 19 (1.4%).
- Dry food: Animal-Based: 20 (6.9%), Hybrid: 265 (91.1%), Plant-Based: 6 (2.1%).
- Total: Animal-Based: 1379 (30.3%), Hybrid: 3018 (66.2%), Plant-Based: 166 (3.6%).
- Ingredient Analysis:
- Animal-based products: Food and drink additives dominated the ingredient list (761 occurrences, 55.2% of total products).
- Glycerol ranked second (440 mentions, 31.9%).
- Vitamins and minerals were also prominent.
- Chicken meat was the most used ingredient (412 products, 29.9%).
- Hybrid products: Additives dominated (2080 products, 69.0%).
- Meat, particularly chicken meat, featured in 982 (32.5%) hybrid products.
- Plant-based products: Additives were used in 57.23% of the products.
- Legumes and plant-based proteins, including peas (21 products), lupin (21 products), and pea protein (16 products), are essential components.
- Nutritional Quality:
- Snacks and Treats: Hybrid treats (21.59 g/100 g) showed higher moisture content than animal-based treats (18.75 g/100 g) and plant-based treats (16.45 g/100 g).
- Animal-based and hybrid treats had higher ash levels.
- Animal-based treats had the highest average fat content (9.71 g/100 g), followed by hybrid (7.66 g/100 g) and plant-based (2.96 g/100 g).
- Plant-based treats had the highest fiber content (3.74 g/100 g), while animal-based and hybrid treats contained much less.
- Protein content was highest in animal-based treats (30.50 g/100 g), followed by hybrid treats (26.28 g/100 g), and plant-based treats had the lowest protein content (6.93 g/100 g).
- Wet Food: Animal-based foods (79.56 g/100 g) had slightly higher moisture content than hybrid products (78.50 g/100 g).
- Plant-based products had the lowest moisture content (76.49 g/100 g).
- Animal-based and hybrid products had the highest fat content (5.55 g/100 g and 5.81 g/100 g, respectively).
- Plant-based products had significantly less fat (3.86 g/100 g).
- Fiber content was significantly higher in plant-based products (1.48 g/100 g) than in animal-based (0.55 g/100 g) and hybrid products (0.62 g/100 g).
- Protein levels were significantly higher in animal-based (9.17 g/100 g) and hybrid products (9.47 g/100 g), while plant-based products had the lowest protein content (7.31 g/100 g).
- Dry Food: The moisture content of all categories ranged from 4 to 21 g/100 g, with an average value of 11.47 g/100 g for animal-based dry foods, followed by hybrid (10.86 g/100 g) and plant-based products (9.67 g/100 g).
- Plant-based and hybrid dry foods had the highest ash content, followed by animal-based dry foods.
- Plant-based products contained the highest fiber at 5.80 g/100 g, followed by hybrid products at 3.28 g/100 g, and animal-based products at 2.66 g/100 g.
- Pricing:
- Plant-based snacks and treats were the most expensive (€3.17 ± 2.46/100 g), followed by animal-based products (€3.11 ± 3.09/100 g).
- Hybrid products were significantly less expensive (€2.59 ± 2.08/100 g).
- Plant-based wet food had the highest mean price (€1.04 ± 0.49/100 g), significantly exceeding both hybrid (€0.64 ± 0.66/100 g) and animal-based product prices (€0.49 ± 0.39/100 g).
- No significant differences were detected in the dry food category (p > 0.05).
Other Important Findings
- Marketing Claims Analysis:
- Animal-based snacks frequently mention low/no/reduced fat (185 products) and grain-free options (174 products).
- Hybrid snacks surpass these figures, with 455 products claiming low/no/reduced fat, 406 grain-free, and 530 with no added sugar.
- Plant-based snacks showed a lower prevalence of health-related claims.
- Sustainability claims were most pronounced in hybrid snacks, with 349 products boasting environmentally friendly packaging and 305 emphasizing recycling.
- Plant-based snacks uniquely excel in plant-based ingredient claims, with 62 products labeled as vegetarian and 59 as vegan.
- In dry food, hybrid products dominated health claims, with significant mentions of grain-free (80 products), vitamin/mineral fortification (137 products), and functional digestion support (115 products).
- Hybrid dry food also leads to functional health attributes like joint, bone, and muscle support (75 claims) and skin and coat benefits (100 claims).
- In wet food, hybrid wet foods led to health-related claims, with 291 products promoting grain-free, 171 no added sugar, and 326 vitamin/mineral fortification.
- Plant-based wet food remains limited in health-related claims.
- Hybrid wet foods stand out with unique claims like vegan/no animal ingredients (13), plant-based (6), and vegetarian (3).
Limitations Noted in the Document
- The study is constrained to protein, fiber, ash, and moisture contents, which means that details on vitamins, minerals, and amino acids were not included.
- The data are based on product labels, which may not fully represent the actual nutrient content due to variations in formulation and production processes.
- The findings are specific to the products available during the 2020-2024 period, which may affect the reliability of the study.
Conclusion
The research underscores significant shifts in the pet food market, driven by consumer demand for sustainable and ethically sourced products, highlighting the rise of plant-based and hybrid dog foods. These trends are concurrent with increased awareness of the environmental impact of livestock farming. Key findings indicate notable differences in the nutritional profiles of animal-based, hybrid, and plant-based dog foods. Plant-based dog foods often have higher fiber and ash contents but may be lower in protein and fat levels, particularly in snacks and treats. Hybrid foods show varied profiles depending on the blend of animal and plant ingredients. Animal-based foods provide higher protein and fat, especially in wet and dry formats. Pricing analysis revealed that plant-based products are generally more expensive. The study’s findings emphasize the need for innovation in plant-based dog foods to enhance protein and fat content while maintaining fiber benefits and reducing costs. The study provides recommendations for improving the nutritional profiles of plant-based dog foods, particularly by enhancing protein and fat content and overall digestibility. The work suggests the importance of accurate labeling and clear nutritional information to help consumers make informed choices, and highlights that the choice between animal-based, hybrid, and plant-based dog foods is influenced by nutritional quality and marketing claims. It also emphasizes that consumers need to consider the diversity within product categories and weigh factors such as ingredient composition, nutrient content, and price in relation to their dogs’ specific needs.