Category: food

COLUMBUS, OHIO — The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) revealed the agenda for its 2025 NASC Annual Conference, which will be held April 22 to 24 in Columbus. The conference will bring together the animal supplement industry to learn and connect. 

The event will begin with an NASC claims and compliance boot camp on April 22. The boot camp will cover current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), labeling, claim substantiation and more. 

On April 23, presentations will cover consumer trends, formulating supplements for felines, financial and merger and acquisition insights, consumer data on pet supplement consumers and retail insights. Breakout sessions will revolve around business and marketing topics, such as guidance for selecting supplier partners, and science and compliance topics, such as microencapsulation, palatability and ensuring efficacy when using biotics. 

Sessions on April 24 will begin with breakout sessions, covering an the NASC’s treats program, advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), using HMB to support canine health, and more topics. General presentations will cover data from Packaged Facts, an update from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), legal updates, the adulteration of chondroitin, ensuring the authenticity of Omega 3s, compliancy and more. 

Speakers during the event will include several industry experts, including: 

• Bill Bookout, president of the NASC
• Nicole Hill, executive director of strategy, and Jon Copeland, research manager, at MarketPlace
• Worth Turner, chief executive officer of CompletePet LLC
• Pete Scott, president and CEO of the American Pet Products Association
• Ravi Sheth, co-founder of Kingdom Supercultures
• Shannon Landry, pet brand manager at Packaged Facts
• Rob Downey, founder of Annamaet Petfoods
• Austin Therrell, executive director of the AAFCO
• Svein Erik Haugmo, co-founder and CEO of Orivo

Learn more about the 2025 NASC Annual Conference. 

Read more about pet food and treat industry events.

WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Jamieson Greer as the next US Trade Representative on Feb. 26. Greer’s confirmation went through with a 56-43 vote.

He served as chief of staff to the US Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, in the first Trump administration and helped negotiate the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Before confirmation as US Trade Representative, Greer worked as a partner at King & Spalding in Washington DC. He is also a former Air Force lawyer.

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) congratulated Greer on his confirmation. 

“On behalf of the US animal food industry, we extend our congratulations to the new US chief trade negotiator, Ambassador Jamieson Greer,” said Constance Cullman, president and chief executive officer of the AFIA. “As a former chief of staff to the US trade representative and trade litigator, Greer is well-suited to represent the industry’s $13.4 billion worth of feed, feed ingredient and pet food exports in trade discussions with foreign leaders. His negotiating skills will be critical for the Trump administration as it works to hold current trade partners accountable, uphold scientific-based standards, and open new doors for American manufacturers.

“With the production of animal food deeply dependent on a predictable supply chain, we encourage Ambassador Greer to quickly take stock of where the animal food industry is vulnerable to foreign single-source suppliers of such vital inputs as vitamins and amino acids and address tariff and non-tariff barriers making it difficult to do business in many countries,” she added. “We pledge to work closely with the USTR to provide expertise and guidance on where the United States can diversify supply chains and bolster domestic manufacturing to ensure a stable food and animal food supply.”

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) also expressed its support of the confirmation. 

“PFI congratulates Ambassador Greer and looks forward to working with him as US pet food makers work to further expand the presence of US pet food in key foreign markets,” said Dana Brooks, president and CEO of the PFI. “With US pet food exports reaching nearly $2.5 billion in 2024, Ambassador Greer’s appointment comes at a pivotal time of continued global expansion of the US pet food industry.”

Stay up to date on the latest pet food processing industry headlines on our News page. 

ALEXANDRIA, VA. — The Pet Advocacy Network (PAN) recently announced the appointment of Kelly Kanaras to director of communications and membership. 

Kanaras most recently worked at the Pet Food Institute. 

“Kelly brings a wealth of experience in communications, membership and the pet care community,” said Mike Bober, president and chief executive officer of PAN. “We’re confident that our members and team here at PAN will both benefit from her expertise and leadership.”

Kanaras added, “I’m thrilled to join Pet Advocacy Network, where my 14 years of membership and communications experience will help amplify PAN’s vital work in promoting animal welfare and supporting responsible pet professionals. As membership director, I look forward to growing our community of advocates who share PAN’s commitment to healthy pets and informed pet care policies.”

Kanaras has a degree in communications from the University of Maryland Global Campus. 

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.

WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins rolled out the agency’s $1 billion plan to lessen the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak and deal with the major increases in egg prices around the United States.

The USDA plans to invest $500 million in what they call “gold-standard biosecurity measures.” The agency will be expanding the Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments designed to safeguard farms from wild bird transmission, which is the cause of 83% of the HPAI cases.

The USDA will also provide free audits for producers affected by HPAI. The agency plans to share up to 75% of the costs to address growers’ biosecurity concerns identified by the assessments and audits.

Another agency approach consists of up to $400 million to indemnify producers who must depopulate their flock to control HPAI spread.

In the plan, Rollins explained that the USDA will explore pathways for vaccines, therapeutics and other strategies to minimize depopulation. The USDA still has not authorized the use of vaccines for poultry. The agency expects to work with governors, state agriculture departments, state veterinarians and poultry and dairy farmers on vaccines and other strategies to invest up to $100 million for this approach and determine where it could be used.

A vaccine from Zoetis was given conditional approval last week. However, poultry industry groups and other stakeholders continue to raise trade concerns with vaccinating flocks in the United States.

Another step in the plan will be the possibility of temporarily increasing egg imports and decreasing exports. Turkey is expected to export 15,000 tonnes of eggs into the United States until July, according to a Reuters report last week.

Rollins and the USDA said it would try to remove “unnecessary regulatory burdens” for the industry to help farmers and consumers.

In an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Rollins said some of the money would come from USDA spending cuts from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Following the initial plan by Rollins and the USDA, Senate Agriculture Chairman John Boozman (R-Ark.) expressed his thoughts on the initial plan from the Trump administration.

“Producers and consumers alike have experienced the economic burden of this outbreak since 2022,” Boozman said. “I look forward to working with USDA to ensure all poultry and livestock producers’ unique challenges are taken into consideration and they have the tools they need to address animal disease risks.”

The National Chicken Council also provided its support for the initial plan for the federal government.

“We applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their desire and commitment to combat HPAI across all species — a common goal shared by US broiler producers,” said Harrison Kircher, president of NCC. “Particularly, we appreciate the measured and science-based approach for the potential use of an effective and applicable vaccine for laying hens and turkeys, and the administration’s commitment to work with our trading partners to minimize any potential negative trade effects should a vaccine ever be used.”

With HPAI also impacting the pet food industry, Pet Food Institute (PFI) expressed its support in the plan. 

“PFI thanks USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins for introducing a comprehensive strategy to combat HPAI, which has been devastating for America’s poultry farmers, who are trusted by US pet food makers to provide the high-quality ingredients used in cat and dog food,” said Dana Brooks, president and chief executive officer of PFI.

“US pet food makers look forward to participating in discussions on how to best support USDA in implementing this critical five-point plan over the coming months,” she added. “This includes working to ensure that egg imports meet strict US safety standards so they can be used in safe, complete and balanced pet food that is fed to dogs and cats in 82 million US households, as well as expanding the Wildlife Biosecurity Assessments pilot program and working with partners to explore possible vaccine and therapeutics options.”

For more regulatory news affecting the pet food market, visit our Regulatory page. 

ORLANDO, FLA. — The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) released the agenda for its “Pet Sustainability Impact Unleashed” track at the Pet Summit 2025 event, which will be held from March 24 to 25 in Orlando. The track will explore a variety of environmental topics in the pet industry including sustainable packaging, eco-friendly ingredients, emissions reductions and corporate social responsibility. 

PSC’s “Pet Sustainability Impact Unleashed” track will begin at noon on March 24 with an opening keynote by Dave Bolen of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), which will provide an overview of the pet market and key consumer shifts. 

Other presentations on day one include: 

• Sustainability Track Opening Remarks: Building a Future Together, presented by Jim Lamancusa of the PSC
• Driving True Impact: Strategies for New Programs, presented by Mia Davis of Ollie
• Connecting Climate and Nature: A Planet-Forward Strategy, presented by Cheryl Baldwin of Pure Strategies
• A Sustainability Journey: Morris Packaging’s Path to Innovation, presented by Penny Steinwagner of Morris Packaging
• Sustainability Trends in the Pet Industry: Data, Consumers & the Power of Social Listening, presented by Ingrid Chu of the APPA and Alisa Hamilton of Harvest Insights

Day one will also include a workshop for brands to build a sustainability roadmap, moderated by Hannah Hintz and Allison Reser of PSC. Following presentations, there will be a cocktail/networking event sponsored by Earth Animal and PetSmart.

Day two presentations include:

• Unleashing the Future of Sustainability: Driving Change in the Pet Industry, presented by Joanne Dwyer of PetSmart
• Healthy Pets, Healthy Planet: How Sustainable Ingredients are Shaping Pet Food, presented by Jennifer Adolphe of ADM, Sean Madison of Innovafeed, Kate Schaffner of Royal Canin, and Chris Schreiber
• The Future of Sustainable Packaging: Solutions for the Pet Industry, presented by Jeff Travis of American Packaging, Brian Steinwagner of Morris Packaging, Allison Reser of PSC, and Adam Kay of Tyler Packaging
• Logistics and Manufacturing: Proven Strategies to Lower your Environmental Footprint, presented by Mike Ketelsen of eShipping, Erin Haas of PSC, and Philip Wiltz of Wenger
• Lightning Talks: Quick Stories of Big Impact in the Pet Industry, presented by Lashonda Geffard of the Black Pet Business Network, Monika Berankyte of Bond Pet Foods, Eric Adams of Dog & Whistle, Stephie Volo of Earth Animal, Jerrica Fletcher of Pawgone Good, Aditya Siroya of rePurpose Global, and Spencer Williams of West Paw
• From Soil to Supply Chain: Tracking the Impact of Agricultural Practices in Pet Food, presented by Cate Battey of HowGood, Eric Allphin of MFiber, and Mark Kleinschmit of Other Half Processing
• Turning Ideas into Action: Closing Remarks and Next Steps, presented by Jim Lamancusa Sophie Gildesgame, Erin Haas and Allison Reser of the PSC

View the full agenda for PSC’s “Pet Sustainability Impact Unleashed” event. 

Read more about pet food and treat industry events. 

ORLANDO, FLA. — What the full impact of GLP-1 medications will be on food and beverage consumption patterns is impossible to know. Use of the medications today is limited and there is much to learn about usage patterns and the nutritional needs of the consumers taking the medications. But company chief executive officers are charged with being prepared and developing strategies for potentially disruptive trends.

During the CAGNY Conference that took place Feb. 18-21, Food Business News had the opportunity to discuss the topic with Sean Connolly, president and CEO of Conagra Brands, Inc., Chicago; and Dirk Van de Put, chairman and CEO of Mondelez International, Inc., Chicago.

Both are watching the trend but don’t see it as being as disruptive as others have predicted.

“What we see is 10 years down the road it would have an effect on our volume of 1% to 1.5%,” Van de Put said. “It’s very small.”

He also predicted the “evolution” of the trend will be slow.

“It will not be overnight,” he said. “I don’t think the drugs will be available to everybody. I don’t think insurance will cover it.

“The evolution will be slow, and we will have time to react to it like we have had to deal with a lot of different things like trans fats. We’ll adapt. It’s doable. We would have to refocus our R&D resources, but we can do that.”

Connolly looked back five years, and referenced the excitement around plant-based meat alternatives and the speculation they would take share from conventional meat processors.

“Back in 1997 I worked on Olestra and people thought that was going to take over,” he said. “I’ve seen these phenomena come and go.”

Van de Put said Mondelez developed a GLP-1-specific model that is updated quarterly with the percentage of consumers on the drugs, how long they stay on the medication, what foods they are eating and not eating, and how “comfortable” the consumers using the medications are with them. He noted that during the last two quarters the “penetration” of the drugs has decreased even though there is more manufacturing capacity to produce the medications.

“The other thing we see is that 80% of the consumers regain 80% of the weight back,” he said. “After they get off the drugs, they start eating like they did before. The theory is they will all start eating healthier but that’s only 10% (of users). The other 90% eat like they have eaten before, only less of it.”

Connelly said that if GLP-1 usage becomes ubiquitous a shift food and beverage manufacturers may see is for users to eat “purposely.”

“They are going to eat differently,” he said. “Purposely, they are going to be obsessed with getting protein. The majority of weight loss is muscle mass. So, protein-centric solutions will be mission critical.

“Portion will be critical, because if you are on a GLP-1 and the portion is too large you will feel queasy and you don’t want to feel that way.”

Van de Put said smaller portions is where he sees Mondelez capitalizing on the trend “in a perfect world.” But, he added, he doesn’t think the usage of GLP-1s on Mondelez will be significant, because 75% of the company’s business is outside of the United States.

“I think the market where GLP-1s will be the biggest is in the US,” he said. “Forty percent of our business is in emerging markets where I don’t think GLP-1s will be embraced. From a geographical point we will be less affected, I would say.”

The bulk of Conagra Brands’ sales are in North America and Connolly said he chooses to see GLP-1s as an opportunity for his company.

“… The one constant in food CPG is change,” he said. “Consumers are constantly changing. Especially around health and wellness, they are constantly changing. Our job as manufacturers and consumerists is to monitor those changes and design products those consumers are looking for.

“That’s what we do. That is the centerpiece of our economic engine. It’s already happening. As we build out our innovation pipeline, we have some things that are more speculative than others. We will design around these attributes and innovate like crazy.”

A report published by TD Cowen shortly after the CAGNY Conference concluded said CPG companies may be underestimating the structural impact of GLP-1 usage.

“We continue to view rising GLP-1 usage as a significant factor in the acceleration of fresh meat and produce’s growth rate around the perimeter of the store and stagnation in the center store and frozen aisles,” the report said.

CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recently expressed its concerns for the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025, which was reintroduced earlier this year. The association is concerned that the proposed legislation could negatively impact consumer protection, reduce transparency in labeling, and jeopardize overall product safety. 

The PURR Act of 2025, originally introduced last year as the PURR Act of 2024 by the Pet Food Institute, aims to create a single federal regulatory process for the pet food industry, giving the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) authority of the labeling and ingredient review process of pet foods. 

According to AAFCO, the legislation would also prohibit state governments from directly or indirectly establishing, maintaining, implementing or enforcing any authority or requirement related to the marketing or labeling of pet food. 

Currently state feed programs help support the FDA by reviewing pet food labels to ensure marketing claims are backed by data and are not false or misleading to consumers. According to AAFCO, the PURR Act would eliminate these checks and balances that help ensure transparency for consumers.

“The PURR Act would remove the ability for state-level regulators to provide the oversight that US pets and pet owners deserve,” said Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO. “Today, state feed programs are the first line of defense protecting consumers from misleading or mislabeled pet food products by inspecting products and labels to ensure that any marketing claims on the label or packaging are accurate and have the necessary scientific data to validate the statements.”

Additionally, the association also expressed concerns with the “ingredients sometimes present” language included in the bill. This language details that manufacturers may use the words “and/or,” “contains one or more of the following” and others on packaging, indicating that an ingredient may not be present in the pet food formula. AAFCO is concerned that this language would allow manufacturers to change or omit ingredients without disclosing it to consumers, which could pose dangers to pets with food allergies or intolerances.  

“Many consumers purchase pet foods and treats based on the dietary needs or allergen requirements of their pets,” Therrell explained. “Lack of transparency would leave pet owners unable to know for certain which ingredients their pets may or may not be consuming, leading to potential health risks.”

The FDA and state governments currently work together under an integrated food safety system that allows the administration to leverage the expertise and resources of state feed programs to advance pet food safety inspections, and also help protect consumers against unsafe, fraudulent, or misleading advertising and labeling, according to AAFCO.

“We will continue to advocate for innovation within the pet food industry in a safe and responsible manner that does not compromise the wellbeing of those the industry serves,” Therrell said.

Read more news from associations and agencies in the pet food sector.

This article was published in the January/February 2025 issue of Pet Food Processing. Read it and other articles from this issue in our January/February digital edition.  

As the animal food industry moves into 2025, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is gearing up to work with the Donald Trump Administration and Republican-led Congress to tackle significant regulatory and trade issues for the US animal food industry. In 2023, the industry exported an impressive $13.4 billion worth of feed, feed ingredients and pet food, totaling 19.8 million metric tons. Pet food alone contributed $2.4 billion to these exports. Looking ahead, the AFIA expects these figures could further grow should certain regulatory hurdles be overcome and fair trade promoted. 

Opportunities for animal food reviews

The Trump administration is likely to revive its regulatory reform approach, similar to the president-elect’s “two-for-one” policy during his first administration, where for every two regulations that are reviewed or repealed, a new one can be implemented. The association also anticipates a closer examination of the rules and regulations responsible for ensuring the safety of the US food supply under the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, which could impact animal food manufacturers. 

With hopes that the administration will focus on responsible, science-based policies that improve animal nutrition, product quality, workplace safety and regulatory efficiency, the AFIA is also looking for opportunities to align regulations with advancements in animal nutrition science. For example, the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is in the process of identifying barriers and improvements to its Food Additive Petition (FAP) and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification processes for ingredient reviews, an effort the AFIA fully supports, as well as undertaking an effort to replace its recently ended review process with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

Working with the states

State legislators are increasingly, and inappropriately, relying on the animal food industry to fund animal welfare and low-cost spay and neuter clinics, placing the financial burden on the pet food and feed sector, which is a cost that ultimately impacts manufacturers’ ability to keep pet food and feed affordable for consumers. As the 2025 state legislative sessions approach, the AFIA will continue to monitor bills that impose financial burdens on consumers with little benefit to the regulation of the industry or improved animal food safety. The association will advocate for alternative funding methods, urging state legislatures to engage their communities in supporting these programs in other ways, such as through special license plates and other philanthropic initiatives. 

“The AFIA continues to urge all state legislators to adopt AAFCO’s modern pet food labeling rules,” wrote Constance Cullman of the American Feed Industry Association.

Meanwhile, significant changes are also underway in the pet food labeling sector. In January 2024, AAFCO, supported by the AFIA, launched a multi-year effort to modernize pet food labels to provide clearer nutritional information. The updated pet food labels will now include a nutrition facts box — like human food labels — that show calorie content per unit, such as cup, can or biscuit, and actual amounts of protein, fat, dietary fiber and carbohydrates. In addition, manufacturers will be required to use an intended use statement on the lower third of the principal display panel; ingredient statements will use parentheticals and common names; and handling and storage information will be standardized with optional icons and headers. 

The pet food industry has already begun implementing the label changes, which will continue to be rolled out on a state-by-state basis. While some changes will take effect in 2025, states have until 2029 to fully comply with these new regulations, and the AFIA continues to urge all state legislators to adopt AAFCO’s modern pet food labeling rules.

Seeking a stable supply chain

US animal food manufacturers continue to voice concerns around trade disputes that could threaten the resiliency of the supply chain and their ability to continue business operations. The AFIA has been urging the Biden Administration and lawmakers to take prudent measures regarding foreign suppliers, particularly where alternatives are limited or not produced domestically, and will continue this call in 2025 with incoming policymakers. 

One area of focus has been on single-country suppliers of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. China currently dominates global production of many of these critical nutrients, accounting for more than 70% of vitamin production and significant portions of key amino acids, including 77% of lysine, 91% of threonine, 84% of valine and 27% of methionine used in the United States. Evaluating the current supply chain and taking proactive steps to address potential vulnerabilities is crucial to avoiding severe impacts on US food security, animal welfare and the economic outlook of the agricultural sector.

To mitigate these risks, the AFIA supports diversifying the supply chain and strengthening domestic production through such measures as tax incentives, grants and other investment mechanisms, and prioritizing vitamins and amino acids in national security discussions. Strengthening domestic capabilities and fostering global cooperation are essential to ensuring a secure, reliable supply of these vital nutrients.

Boosting pet food exports

In 2025, the AFIA will continue leveraging the US Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP) to expand US pet food exports, particularly in Vietnam. Building on past successes, the AFIA will maintain its collaboration with the Vietnamese Small Animal Veterinary Association (VSAVA) to support veterinary clinics and raise awareness among pet owners about the importance of proper animal nutrition. Additionally, the association will utilize USDA funding from the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to explore opportunities for US pet food ingredient manufacturers and suppliers in the Vietnamese market. By supporting the expansion of domestic pet food production in Vietnam, with the use of US ingredients, these collaborations aim to make pet food more affordable and accessible to local pet owners. 

The US animal food industry relies on MAP and EMP funding to build export opportunities. Funding for these programs is set in the farm bill, which Congress will continue to debate in its new session. These programs have not seen funding increases since 2006, yet they are crucial for promoting animal food exports, given the absence of new trade agreements. A continuing key policy priority for the AFIA is to secure increased funding in the farm bill for the MAP and EMP programs, as well as other market development initiatives, to support the continued growth of US agricultural exports, including pet food.

Strengthening the industry

“The US animal food industry will remain a vital contributor to the national economy and the continued growth of agriculture,” wrote Constance Cullman of the American Feed Industry Association.

The US animal food industry will remain a vital contributor to the national economy and the continued growth of agriculture, and the AFIA remains committed to advancing the industry through its efforts. Advocating for responsible, science-based policies and regulatory efficiency while fostering new market opportunities supports advanced animal nutrition and product quality, maintains the industry’s competitiveness in a global market, and promotes the wellbeing of animals.

For more regulatory news affecting the pet food market, visit our Regulatory page.