Pet parents are very much aware of the benefits omega-3s have for their pets and are therefore more conscious about the choices they are making when choosing the right food. This puts pet food brands in a unique spot, where they constantly have to be on the lookout for the best and most effective ingredients.
Not all omega-3s are the same
A crucial ingredient for pet food, omega-3s have demonstrated great health benefits for pets, including healthy organs, joints, skin, and fur. However, not all omega-3s are the same. There is a unique distinction between triglyceride omega-3s and phospholipid omega-3s. For example, in krill, omega-3s are mostly in phospholipid form, which makes them a very rich source of omega-3s.
"Omega-3 phospholipids, the essential building blocks of all cells, are delivered much more effectively to tissues and cells than the omega-3 triglycerides found in fish oil", says Dr. Lena Burri, Director R&D, Animal Nutrition and Health at Aker BioMarine.
Pet food ingredients should be purposefully made for pets
When an omega-3 ingredient is purposely made with pets in mind, it has the right quality of omega-3s for them, healthy marine proteins, and ideally no other additives. Finding the right ingredient might be difficult sometimes, but in recent years we have seen a trend that a lot of healthy choices for humans are also becoming an excellent ingredient for pets. This also applies to krill, as krill oil has been an excellent source of omega-3s for humans over the past 10 years. Implementing this trend into the pet industry is a choice primarily executed by using the full potential of the product created for pets.
Sustainability plays a big role in marine ingredients
Protect our oceans and their ecosystems by choosing marine feed ingredients that are obtained from a sustainable fishery.
To ensure that the sustainability of marine ingredients in pet food formulations, always look out for the MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification, which ensures that the product is 100% sustainable and traceable. Fisheries and manufacturers that are MSC certified are audited by independent third-party assessment bodies, to guarantee their seafood is caught using sustainable methods and is traceable throughout the supply chain.
The certification ensures that the fishery is well managed by methods that prevent unwanted by-catch and protect the ecosystem. All MSC-certified products can be traced back to the harvesting date, time and location.
