Bug Bites: Cricket Treats Your Pet and the Planet Will Love

Hoppers makes nutritious dog treats from cricket protein. Their Hayride and Hound Dog flavors come in packaging so cute, you’ll want to reach in and try one yourself. And it turns out you can. “I’ve personally tried all of them and they taste great,” says Danielle Wood, one of four co-founders that launched Hoppers in 2021. Included in each Hoppers treat are human-approved ingredients like chickpeas, peanut butter, coconut oil, banana, and honey. “The first thing people comment on when they open a bag is that they smell delicious.”

Insect protein may seem new to us, but dogs have always been down for a chirping treat. Wood adds, “Insects are part of their ancestral diet, and they’re probably eating them when they’re playing outside anyway.”

Chippin is a dog food brand focused on planet-friendly proteins. In addition to cricket products, they also make food from silver carp (a wild-caught, overpopulated fish from the Great Lakes), and vegan spirulina. According to Jessica Blum, Head of Business Operations at Chippin, their “proteins are all free from the top allergens in dogs, offer functional benefits like prebiotic/probiotic gut health support, and are 80 percent less natural resource-intensive to produce than a standard beef or chicken treat.”

Chippin sources their proteins directly from small and medium-sized farms and fisheries in North America. Their packaging is even certified plastic neutral and made from recycled yogurt cups. “With so many alternative protein sources to tap into that are equally as nutritious for pets and so much healthier for our planet, we’re ready to see a shift in the status quo of what ‘healthy’ means in the pet industry,” Blum says.  

Another new company on the pet food scene is Neo Bites. Neo Bites makes cricket-based food toppers and treats that “supercharge” your dog’s diet. In addition to promoting health and longevity for our pets, co-founder Wesley Cooper says sustainability is a top priority for the brand. Neo Bites is the first carbon-negative pet food company in the U.S., meaning they offset more than they emit.

“We make everything in small batches in Austin, TX,” Cooper says. “By doing that we are able to keep a close eye on quality control, reduce waste in production, and minimize the transportation of our products from warehouse to warehouse.”

Eating insects has long been stigmatized in the U.S., but millions of people enjoy crickets as part of their regular diet in other parts of the world. As climate change continues to loom large, feeding our pets earth-friendly options is one small way we can reduce our individual impact. Cooper explains, “My hope is to demonstrate to the pet food industry that innovation, progress, and responsibility is not only demanded by consumers, but should be the norm for how we conduct business.”

Jiminy’s was one of the first pet food brands to add powdered cricket protein to dog food and treats. Their latest product innovation is their Nooch Puffs and Peanut Puffs, which have a unique airy and crunchy texture that pups love. Every five ounce bag of Jiminy’s dog food saves 220 gallons of water when compared to traditional meat options. “We're so proud to be combatting the effects of climate change and making dogs happy along the way,” says founder and CEO Anne Carlson, “The best part is we’re just getting started.”