Join us on our mission to improve pet nutrition and pet protein sustainability. Made by Vivotein LLC and grown on pre-consumed food in our facilities in Ontario, California, our larvae grow rich in nutrients and divert food waste from landfills, reducing greenhouse gases.
Our pet treats and food are made with natural and carefully selected ingredients with our patent-pending production process and under Affco standards.
Black soldier fly larvae protein is a new ingredient found in hypoallergenic dog foods — and it’s going to be revolutionary.
As people who love their pets, we have a great appreciation of the role that diet plays in the health of our dogs. We’ve been looking at the roll of how allergies caused by pet food ingredients could be at the root of chronic health issues ranging from arthritis to skin conditions to ear infections. Because of this, pet food manufacturers like ourselves are going beyond the staple ingredient list to find new sources of protein that are easy on the canine gut and immune system.
So what's with fly larvae?
One new ingredient that’s generating a lot of buzz in the hypoallergenic pet food category is protein made from black soldier fly larvae (or grubs). To create this ingredient, the grubs are dried, heat treated, and ground into a protein-rich powder or oil that can then be added to a pet food recipe, alongside other ingredients.
Black soldier fly protein is an excellent choice for a hypoallergenic diet because it’s a novel ingredient – meaning it has never been used in dog food before. That’s a benefit for sensitive dogs because, in general, they need to have been previously exposed to a food ingredient for their bodies to react against it. In other words, this is an ingredient you can feel confident about feeding to your dog.
Nutritious and digestible
The powder created from black soldier fly grubs is filled with prebiotics, essential amino acids, and digestible lipids. Black soldier fly oil is rich in lauric acid – the medium-chain fatty acid that drives the popularity of coconut oil – and it also contains a significant amount of unsaturated fats.
Trials have shown that black soldier fly protein and fat are also highly digestible and palatable.
A sustainable protein source
It’s one of the most sustainable sources of protein available in the world today.
Feed as a treat to your dog. One (1) piece of our Forager’s Feed Dog treats is about 11g, contains about 40% of protein and provides approximately 58 calories. While our treats can be fed to any dog at any stage, it is suggested for adult dogs of any size. It is recommended not to feed treats to your dog, more than 10% of the required daily caloric intake.
