Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Bond Pet Foods secure FDA clearance for precision-fermented lamb protein

Hill’s Pet Nutrition and Bond Pet Foods have received a U.S. Food and Drug Administration no-objection letter for Lamb Protein Yeast, marking the first animal protein produced through precision fermentation to complete the agency’s GRAS Notice review process for use in pet food.

• Bond Pet Foods received an FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine Letter of No Objection for its Lamb Protein Yeast ingredient.
• The ingredient was developed with Hill’s Pet Nutrition and supported use in healthy adult dog food at inclusion levels of up to 15%.
• Hill’s and Bond completed a separate feeding study in cats and prepared additional information for FDA review.

The ingredient was developed by Bond in collaboration with Hill’s after the companies completed a six-month longitudinal feeding study in dogs. According to the companies, FDA’s review and no objection to the Generally Recognized as Safe Notice marked a step toward commercialization of a new source of animal protein for pet food.

Lamb Protein Yeast was the first ingredient from the Hill’s and Bond collaboration to complete FDA’s GRAS Notice review process for healthy adult dogs. The review supported use at inclusion levels of up to 15% of finished food.

The companies described the ingredient as a carefully selected animal protein made through precision fermentation, a process already used in food production for applications including cheesemaking ingredients, enzymes and vitamins. Bond’s platform uses optimized yeast cultures to produce proteins designed to be nutritionally comparable to those from conventional animal sources.

“We are thrilled to achieve this important regulatory milestone with Hill's,” said Rich Kelleman, Founder & CEO of Bond Pet Foods. “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.”

Bond and Hill’s have also completed a feeding study in cats using Lamb Protein Yeast and prepared to submit additional information to FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in support of feline use. The companies said the work reflected their shared commitment to science-based nutrition for both dogs and cats.

“This achievement underscores our long-standing commitment to science-led innovation in pet nutrition,” added Dave Baloga, Executive Vice President, Science & Technology at Hill's Pet Nutrition. “Lamb Protein Yeast expands the range of science-backed nutritional options we can deliver, supporting our sustainability objectives while maintaining the rigorous nutritional standards for which Hill's is known.”

Hill’s and Bond first announced their collaboration in 2021, with the aim of developing an alternative approach to meeting pets’ dietary needs through science-based processes rather than relying solely on traditional animal protein ingredients.

The partnership has since included commercial-scale production of Lamb Protein Yeast and the delivery of more than 25 metric tons to Hill’s facilities for formulation, testing and regulatory evaluation.

Bond, based in Boulder, Colorado, produces animal proteins for pet food applications through precision fermentation. The company described its technology as a way to create consistent, scalable and more environmentally responsible protein ingredients for pet food manufacturers.

Hill’s, based in Overland Park, Kansas, has operated for more than 75 years and develops pet nutrition products through a team that includes veterinarians, PhD nutritionists and food scientists. Its product lines include Prescription Diet therapeutic nutrition and Science Diet wellness products, sold through veterinary clinics and pet specialty retailers.

With regulatory status secured for use in dog food, Hill’s and Bond have moved toward commercialization in the US market. The companies said work remained underway to support use of Lamb Protein Yeast in cat food.