UK startup The Pack and Germany’s MicroHarvest have teamed up to roll out vegan dog treats featuring the latter’s microbial protein ingredient.
British dog owners can now buy microbial protein treats that are good for the planet and their pet’s gut.
The Pack has debuted Gut Bites, a vet-formulated, oven-baked hypoallergenic dog treat, in collaboration with German alternative protein firm MicroHarvest, a first for the UK market.
It’s also the first new product post-acquisition for The Pack, which became a subsidiary of premium manufacturer Prefera Pet Food earlier this year. It’s available on the brand’s website for £3.95 per pack.
“Our community of dog owners often tells us they struggle with picky eaters and pets with allergies or sensitive stomachs. Gut Bites is our answer: a delicious, functional treat that’s also allergy-friendly,” said Damien Clarkson, co-founder of The Pack and managing director of Prefera Pet Food UK.
“We’ve always been open to next-generation ingredients, and MicroHarvest’s microbial protein stood out as a game-changer. This launch demonstrates our commitment to bringing UK pet parents products that are innovative, healthy, and sustainable.”
Microbial protein stars in palatability tests with dogs
The hero ingredient in the vegan dog treats is MPX Care, a fermentation-derived ingredient designed by MicroHarvest for canines that can’t tolerate conventional protein sources.
It is produced by feeding microbes from the same bacteria found in kimchi, kefir and sauerkraut on agricultural waste, with the process just taking 24 hours. The resulting biomass has over 60% raw protein content, a complete amino acid profile, and an umami flavour that increases palatability.
This has been proven in market research. Palatability tests show that even selective small dogs consistently preferred food containing the microbial protein. They found that 58% of dogs chose a meal of MPX replacement formula kibble first over the reference, and ate 44% more of it too.
There’s also an environmental advantage. Recent research has shown that vegan pet food is the most effective measure to tackle the climate footprint of dogs and cats, even when accounting for the fact that most conventional pet food uses animal byproducts.
Currently, an area of land twice the size of the UK is used to produce dry food for cats and dogs. To counter that, MicroHarvest uses byproducts from the farming industry, and no additional farmland itself. Its microbial ingredient generates 1.4kg of CO2e per kg, which it says is 90% less than beef, and “significantly lower” than plant proteins.
“36% of British households own a dog, and the UK cat and dog food market is worth £3.9B annually, so entering this market is a major step in our expansion journey,” said MicroHarvest CEO Katelijne Bekers.
“But for us, this collaboration is about more than scaling; it’s about validation. By working with The Pack, we’re showing that microbial protein isn’t just a sustainable solution, but one that dogs truly enjoy. Gut Bites is a perfect example of that.”
Gut health a major focus for dog owners
The Gut Bites, sold under The Pack’s brand, pairs MPX Care with fava beans, chickpea flour, fruits and vegetables (like sweet potatoes, strawberries, and apples), yeast extract, and vegetable glycerine. It also contains mannan-oligo-saccharide (MOS) and chicory root to feed beneficial gut bacteria and promote balanced digestion, and yucca extract to reduce stool odour and improve digestive efficiency.
The product is allergy-friendly and caters to picky eaters and those with sensitive stomachs. While estimates vary, between 1% and 8% of dogs have food allergies, making hypoallergenic foods essential for these pets.
A study by MicroHarvest and Wageningen University & Research last year found that 77% of German and British dog owners would buy dog treats containing microbial protein, and 78% would consider buying complete dog food made with it.
Polling shows that nine in 10 UK dog owners say their pet’s gut health is very or extremely important to them, and almost half have changed their diet out of concern for their microbiomes. Moreover, 80% of consumers would consider changing dog food brands if proven to support gut health.
The launch comes a year after MicroHarvest partnered with Vegdog to launch Pure Bites, a microbial protein snack for dogs, in Germany. Another local player, Marsapet, rolled out a kibble product for dogs using Calysta’s gas-fermented FeedKind protein in Europe this year.
Now, the UK is the latest market to offer such proteins. Climate-smart pet food has been ascendant in the country lately. The British Veterinary Association ended its long-standing objection to plant-based dog food last year, before the UK became the first country to make cultivated meat for pets available for sale.
And London-based startup Omni saw sales shoot up by 130% with 20,000 new customers in the three months after securing an investment from Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden on Dragons’ Den. Shortly after, it released an Ozempic-inspired weight-loss supplement featuring a blend of amino acids and probiotics.
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