Insects
meat ingredient
What is it?
Insects is a meat ingredient. Graded good: a real, recognisable ingredient that adds nutritional value, so it lifts a product’s score.
Other names on labels: dehydrated insect, fresh insect, freshly prepared insect
Show 6 more label names
dried cricket, dried crickets, cricket, crickets, mealworm, mealworms
At a glance
- Base score
- 1 (from −1 to 1; higher is better)
- Found in
- 47 products
Products containing insects
Results reflect the latest label we hold for each product, not a live check of today's recipe. Open a product to see its source and last-checked date.
Common questions about insects
Is Insects good for dogs?
Yes, we grade it as a good ingredient: recognisable and nutritionally useful, so it lifts a product’s score. Bear in mind that no single ingredient decides quality; the whole recipe and its balance matter more.
Is insect protein safe for dogs?
Insect ingredients used in UK pet foods are regulated and considered safe when included in complete foods. They provide a novel, digestible protein source for many dogs.
Why do some dog foods use insects?
Insects can offer a sustainable source of protein and fat. They are often used as an alternative to conventional meat or fish in recipes designed for dogs with sensitivities.
Show 3 more questions
How many UK dog foods contain insects?
47 UK products list insects as an ingredient in our database. The full list is shown above, sorted by rating.
What else is insects called on labels?
Manufacturers list it under several names: dehydrated insect, fresh insect, freshly prepared insect, dried cricket, dried crickets, cricket, crickets, mealworm, mealworms. We match all of these to the same glossary entry when we read a label.
How does Open Dog Food grade insects?
We grade it good, our highest grade, reserved for recognisable ingredients that add real nutritional value. Every ingredient is converted to its dry-matter share and scored from our glossary before a recipe gets its 1-100 rating; the full method is on our methodology page.