British Tuggs Adds Yummy Larvae to Bespoke Dog Chow

A startup company in the UK is making dog food with a novel ingredient: larvae of the black soldier fly. Tuggs is the brainchild of Harry Bremner, whose 2021 master’s dissertation-cum-business proposal on dog food was so good, his advisor offered to fund it.

“At the moment we have three recipes,” Bremner tells JustFood. “In about a year, we’ll have six and then we’re adding a range of treats – all insect-based treats and supplements.”

Bremner’s idea addresses two problems, climate change and the sorry nutritional state of commercial dog food. Insects are a source of sustainable protein that generate only 4% the carbon emissions of beef production and use 95% less land and water for the same output of protein. 

Tuggs bug chow does contain some meat. The three recipes come in beef, turkey, or cod, each supplemented with potato, carrots, zucchini, and fly larvae. As the website promises, “Black Soldier Fly is nutritionally comparable to beef, being high in protein and containing necessary vitamins, fats, and all essential amino acids required to let your pup thrive.” 

Tuggs is a subscription-based service, at the moment available only in the UK, and it’s not cheap. Six 800-gram pouches of chow will run you £39.99 (about fifty bucks). But they will tailor your dog’s diet based on its size, activity level, and “other metrics such as their neutered status and breed.”

If the environmental and nutritional perks aren’t enough, the bug food also supposedly cures doggy breath. 

Photo credit: Tuggs