Cricket
6 foods contain this ingredient
This is an alphabetical list, not a ranking. Add KL+ to rank foods for your pet in the Food Finder.
About Cricket
Cricket is an insect-derived protein, usually dried cricket meal, used as a novel or sustainable protein source in some dog foods.
Crickets are used as a novel, sustainable protein and fat source in pet foods and treats—typically processed into insect meal for dogs and cats. They provide digestible protein, beneficial fats and micronutrients (such as B vitamins and iron) and a chitin-based fiber that may support gut health, but should be introduced gradually to watch for gastrointestinal upset or potential cross-reactive allergies (e.g., shellfish) and chosen from reputable, contaminant-tested suppliers.
- Derived from
- dried, ground whole crickets (Acheta domesticus), processed into insect meal
- Primary role
- novel animal protein and fat source, alternative to conventional meat meals
Why it's used
Cricket meal is used as an alternative animal protein for dogs that may benefit from a novel protein not previously in their diet, and as a more resource-efficient protein option compared to some conventional livestock proteins. AAFCO has advanced a tentative ingredient definition for dried cricket in dog food, reflecting its emerging but still limited regulatory recognition.
Common concerns
- Cross-reactivity with shellfish allergies Crickets are arthropods that share allergenic proteins, tropomyosin and arginine kinase, with crustaceans and dust mites, and research on edible insects has found that a majority of shrimp-allergic individuals in a food-challenge study reacted to insect protein, indicating a documented cross-reactivity risk relevant to pets with existing shellfish sensitivities.
- Chitin content and digestibility Cricket meal contains chitin from the exoskeleton, an indigestible fiber component for dogs, and substituting cricket meal for conventional meat meal has been shown to reduce overall diet digestibility.
- Not yet approved for cat food AAFCO's tentative definition for dried cricket currently applies to dog food only, so its regulatory status in cat food is not established in the same way.
Also relevant
AAFCO separately approved black soldier fly larvae for use in adult dog food, showing insect protein is being evaluated ingredient-by-ingredient rather than as a single category.
4 sources cited
- AAFCO's tentative 'Dried Cricket' ingredient definition applies to dog food, not cat food, with a moisture limit
- Cricket protein contains chitin fiber and substituting it for meat meal can reduce digestibility
- Tropomyosin and arginine kinase drive cross-reactivity between edible insects and crustacean/dust mite allergens, with clinical reaction data in shrimp-allergic patients
- Discussion of insect protein as a potential hypoallergenic option and associated caveats for pet food
Common Questions
What category is Cricket?
Cricket is categorized as a protein ingredient in the KibbleLab database.
Is Cricket part of an allergen group?
Yes. Cricket is grouped under the Exotic Proteins allergen group in the KibbleLab database.
Which foods contain Cricket?
6 foods in the KibbleLab database contain Cricket, including Archway, Earth Animal, Jiminy's.
Foods with Cricket
Alphabetical by brand. Scores run 0 to 10, higher is better, on published veterinary science.
Find the right food for your pet
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