Hill’s, Bond secure FDA clearance for fermented lamb protein in dog food

USA – Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a global leader in science-led pet nutrition, and Bond Pet Foods, a biotechnology company, have secured a major regulatory milestone after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a Letter of No Objection for Bond’s Lamb Protein Yeast ingredient for use in dog food.

The approval marks one of the first regulatory clearances for a precision fermentation-derived meat protein ingredient in the pet food sector and allows it to be included at up to 15% in food for healthy adult dogs.

The ingredient was developed through a partnership between the two companies, first announced in 2021, focused on developing alternative protein sources for companion animal nutrition using biotechnology and fermentation.

Bond’s precision fermentation platform uses engineered yeast cultures to produce proteins designed to match the nutritional characteristics of conventional animal proteins. 

According to the companies, Lamb Protein Yeast delivers a complete amino acid profile comparable to traditional lamb protein.

The regulatory submission included a six-month feeding study in dogs evaluating safety and nutritional performance. 

The companies also confirmed they have completed a separate feline feeding study and are preparing additional submissions to support approval for cat food applications.

Rich Kelleman, founder and CEO of Bond Pet Foods, described the FDA clearance as a significant step toward commercialisation.

“The results of our six-month feeding study, together with the FDA’s Letter of No Objection, demonstrate the safety and nutritional performance of our brewed proteins and bring us a significant step closer to delivering a reliable source of high-quality protein for pets,” Kelleman said.

Alternative proteins gain momentum in pet nutrition

The approval reflects growing investment across the pet food sector in fermentation-derived and lower-impact protein ingredients as manufacturers seek to balance sustainability targets with nutritional performance.

Since the partnership began, Bond has scaled production commercially and supplied more than 25 metric tonnes of Lamb Protein Yeast to Hill’s for formulation, testing and regulatory evaluation.

Dave Baloga, Executive Vice President for Science and Technology at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, said the ingredient expands the company’s portfolio of science-backed nutrition options while supporting sustainability goals.

The latest development also aligns with Hill’s broader sustainability strategy. 

Earlier this year, ADM announced a partnership with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to expand regenerative agriculture practices across farms in Illinois, Minnesota and Hungary, supporting more sustainable ingredient sourcing within pet food supply chains.

Industry analysts say precision fermentation is becoming increasingly important in pet nutrition because it enables manufacturers to reduce reliance on conventional meat inputs while maintaining consistency, digestibility and amino acid quality.

With regulatory clearance now secured for dog food applications, Hill’s and Bond said they are moving toward U.S. commercialisation while continuing work on feline approvals and future product expansion.

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.