By Pet Product News Staff
Published:
Shannon Falconer, Ph.D., CEO of Because Animals, examines animal cells with tissue scientist, Taylor Brooks, in the startup’s lab.
Because Animals Inc., a Philadelphia-based bioscience startup making pet food without animal meat, recently closed its seed round of funding with investment from Keen Growth Capital, Draper Associates and SOSV.
Company officials said that they are the first company to create cultured meat pet food made from mouse tissue.
“The cultured meat will be grown without the use of antibiotics, growth hormones and without contributing to the animal cruelty associated with traditional animal agriculture,” officials added. “Because Animals is also the first company to create cultured meat technology in pet food without using the controversial fetal bovine serum, or FBS. FBS is controversial because it involves the inhumane practice of extracting blood from pregnant cows at slaughter. Because Animals has developed a proprietary media that provides the nutrients and growth factors needed for tissue to grow, all without the requirement of FBS.”
Cultured meat is also safer than current commercial pet food made with factory farmed meat, officials said, pointing to various recalls from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. In addition, cultured meat is more environmentally sustainable than current commercial pet food, officials added.
Because Animals launched its first product, a cultured probiotic supplement, in 2018. The all-natural, human-grade supplement, one for cats and one for dogs, contains more than 250 million probiotics per gram, according to company officials. The health benefits of this bacterial strain have been reported by more than two dozen peer-reviewed research papers, with findings that the probiotic can help support improved digestion and immunity, officials further noted.
In late October, the company began pre-selling its certified organic, human-grade dog cookie, Noochies. The treat was named after the cultured ingredient, nutritional yeast, commonly known as Nooch, officials said. Nooch is known for its rich, cheesy, umami taste and its high content of B vitamins and sustainable, complete protein, officials added.
The line of cultured meat pet food products is expected to launch in 2021.
