WACKER enters EU pet food market with approval for fermentation-derived amino acids

WACKER has entered the European pet food additives market after receiving European Commission approval for its fermentation-derived L-cystine and L-cysteine as sensory additives for all animal species, extending the company’s FERMOPURE BioIngredients range into a market it has served in the USA for more than a decade.

• WACKER has received European Commission approval for its L-cystine and L-cysteine as sensory feed additives for all animal species.
• The company produces L-cystine through fermentation using plant-based glucose and an E. coli production strain before converting it to L-cysteine through electrolysis.
• WACKER reported that it is currently the only manufacturer of L-cysteine derived from biotechnologically produced cystine approved by the EU as a feed additive.

The approval followed a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and provides pet food manufacturers with a regulatory pathway to use WACKER’s FERMOPURE products across animal species.

“With the new EU approval, we are expanding our range of pet food products in Europe to include amino acids produced through fermentation,” said Christian Hauk, Head of BioIngredients at WACKER’s Biosolutions business division. “This ensures that our customers receive products made from plant-based raw materials that are of the highest quality and fully traceable.”

The approval covers FERMOPURE NATURAL L-CYSTINE PET FOOD alongside several variants of FERMOPURE VEGAN L-CYSTEINE PET FOOD, including L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate, a 20-mesh version of the same ingredient, L-cysteine hydrochloride anhydrous and L-cysteine free base.

WACKER has already supplied ingredients to the US pet food market for more than 10 years. The European authorization now gives the German chemicals and biotechnology group access to another major market for its fermentation-derived amino acids.

The company reported that it is currently the only manufacturer of L-cysteine derived from biotechnologically produced cystine that has EU approval for use as a feed additive.

L-cysteine and L-cystine are used in pet food as flavor precursors and flavor components. During production, the amino acids react with reducing sugars through the Maillard reaction, generating characteristic meaty and savory flavors.

For pet food manufacturers, this can improve the palatability of formulations containing nutritionally valuable ingredients that cats or dogs might otherwise find less appealing. WACKER reported that its FERMOPURE ingredients are effective at low doses and can be incorporated into formats including liquids, chewable products, tablets and powders.

The company has already established the products in human food applications and is now extending their use into European pet food.

WACKER has also been expanding its biotechnology portfolio for alternative protein production. In November 2025, the company [launched a food-grade version of the FGF-2 growth factor for cell-cultivated meat production], produced through microbial fermentation and designed to support serum-free media at commercial scale.

The company has been developing a broader portfolio of growth factors, media proteins and peptides for cell-cultivated meat. It has also worked with Aleph Farms since 2021 on production processes and supply-chain solutions intended to support the scale-up of cell-cultivated meat.

FERMOPURE production starts with plant-based glucose, which WACKER uses as the feedstock in a fermentation process involving a suitable E. coli production strain. The microorganism produces L-cystine, which is subsequently purified.

Producing L-cysteine requires an additional processing stage in which the L-cystine is reduced to L-cysteine using electrolysis.

The process provides an alternative to conventional sources of L-cysteine that can depend on animal-derived raw materials. WACKER described its route as a natural biotechnological process that enables production without animal-based raw materials.

The European approval comes as pet food continues to attract companies working with fermentation, biotechnology and other novel protein production technologies.

Unlike companies developing entirely new proteins or biomass ingredients for pet nutrition, however, WACKER’s move centers on established amino acids used for their functional role in flavor development.

The company cited data from Global Market Insights valuing the global pet food and treats market at US$145.2 billion in 2025, with the market forecast to increase from US$152.1 billion in 2026 to US$259 billion by 2035.

Europe accounted for US$43.2 billion in 2025, according to the figures cited by WACKER. The company linked continued growth partly to increasing pet ownership and the anthropomorphization of companion animals, accompanied by rising demand for functional and naturally sourced pet food.

For WACKER, the authorization adds another regulated application for its fermentation platform while giving European pet food manufacturers access to a European source of L-cystine and L-cysteine.

The company said its position as the largest Western manufacturer of the two amino acids could also provide pet food manufacturers with greater security of supply as demand develops.

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