Hey, guys. This week I am going to get straight to the point. I recently had a CEO reach out to me in regard to her new company launching an innovative product.

She caught my attention immediately. I was extremely intrigued. Her first sentence to me was “We have a product made completely out of crickets.”

Okay, you have my attention.

Treats for dogs made solely out of crickets? Let’s explore this.

Jiminy’s Cricket Treats

Before we go further, I want you to know I receive zero commission for educating you on their product. I am simply intrigued and wanted to share the information with you.

The company is called Jiminy’s. Quite the pun, right? If you remember Pinnocchio, you’ll remember the cricket’s name is Jiminy. Hence, Jiminy’s Crickets. Clever.

Why Use Crickets?

I asked why they chose to use crickets. What was their process in determining cricket protein was the direction they wanted to head?

In the United States alone, 32 billion pounds of protein is consumed by dogs only per year.

This amount of protein (like chicken and beef), is just not sustainable.

Their mission is to ensure our dogs remain happy and healthy while helping the environment.

Alright, now you have even more attention. You have a cricket-based product which helps the environment.

In regard to the overall nutrition of the cricket treats, of course protein is their number one priority to discuss, but crickets also contain amino acids, omegas, potassium, magnesium, iron, vitamin B, vitamin B12, fiber, and taurine.

Digestion

As far as digestion goes, Jiminy’s partnered with Iowa State University to determine digestibility. Iowa State found the treats to be highly digestible (equivolent to that of chicken and beef products).

See TREATS,

Page A7

From Page A6

While conducting research, scientists also discovered cricket protein supports gut health. It’s a prebiotic.

The Environment

Let’s discuss the environmental impact for a moment. As far as cricket development goes, the use of crickets for protein requires 93% less land than beef. That’s quite significant.

Each single bag saves 220 gallons of water when compared to the water necessary to create a traditional treat.

The development of crickets for protein is also much more humane. Crickets are harvested towards the end of their life cycle (much different than traditional sources).

Hypoallergenic

It seems like the benefits keep going on and on. Veterinarians are already recommending Jiminy’s for dogs who have allergic reactions to treats/food. Allergies in dogs are often triggered by the protein source (chicken, beef, etc). Crickets have been found to be hypoallergenic.

Made in the USA

Finally, Jiminy’s Cricket Products are made right here in the United States of America. They are low calorie treats containing no fillers (corn, wheat, etc). The treats are also free of antibiotics, artificial colors, and preservatives.

My Dog, Goober

After learning so much about the product (I always research first), I allowed my dog, Goober, to give them a try. He absolutely loves them. I had never heard of crickets being used as a main protein source, but I am happy that she reached out to me to partner. This is definitely a huge advancement in the dog treat world.

That’s all I have for you today, guys.

Until next time.