A bird's nest logo sits on display at the Nestle SA headquarters in Vevey, Switzerland, on Feb 12, 2019. (PHOTO / BLOOMBERG)

LONDON - Nestle’s Purina brand is launching a line of pet food using insects, as the world’s biggest food group tests more environmentally sustainable protein sources.

The move addresses a trend of people seeking more eco-friendly or allergen-free diets for their pets, and puts the world’s largest food company into potential competition with smaller brands like Yora and Green Petfood’s InsectDog.

The move addresses a trend of people seeking more eco-friendly or allergen-free diets for their pets, and puts the world’s largest food company into potential competition with smaller brands like Yora and Green Petfood’s InsectDog

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The Purina Beyond Nature’s Protein line, which launches in Nestle’s home country, Switzerland, this month, will be available in two variations - one using chicken, fava beans and protein from black soldier fly larvae, and one using chicken, pig’s liver and millet.

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Both are available for dogs and cats.

In a blog post last year, the British Veterinary Association endorsed insect-based pet food, saying “insect protein offers a more sensible alternative to owners who want to offer a ‘livestock-free’ diet to their pets rather than homemade vegetarian or vegan diets which often result in poor pet health & welfare”.