Our CEO Anne Carlson was recently featured in The New York Times discussing the future of sustainable pet nutrition. Here's what she had to say about making meaningful change, one bowl at a time.
When it comes to environmental impact, our pets might just be the unexpected heroes. In a recent New York Times article exploring the future of pet food, Jiminy's CEO Anne Carlson highlighted something remarkable: the unique opportunity that pet nutrition presents for creating immediate, lasting change.
Why Pet Food Matters More Than You Think
Unlike humans, who might eat dozens of different foods in a week, our dogs and cats are creatures of habit. They're perfectly content eating the same nutritious meal day after day. As Anne explained to the Times, "It's like flipping a switch. One day it's unsustainable, the next, it's sustainable."
This consistency is actually a superpower when it comes to environmental impact. While we might struggle to overhaul our own complex diets, switching our pets to sustainable nutrition can create immediate, measurable change.
The Truth About Consumer Motivation
Anne shared an honest insight from our years in the sustainable pet food space: "What we're learning is that people don't really react or buy based on sustainability." So what does motivate pet parents? The same things that have always mattered most—nutrition, taste, and their pet's wellbeing.
The beauty of insect-based protein is that it doesn't require pet parents to compromise on any of these priorities. Cricket protein delivers complete amino acid profiles, dogs love the taste, and the environmental benefits come as a bonus.
Dogs Don't Overthink It
Perhaps most importantly, as Anne noted, "The dogs are not going to overthink it." While we might spend months researching and agonizing over dietary changes for ourselves, our dogs are refreshingly straightforward. They care about taste, nutrition, and how the food makes them feel—and cricket-based nutrition excels on all these fronts.
The Bigger Picture
The New York Times article explored how both insect protein and lab-grown meat "have the potential to be far less damaging to the environment." At Jiminy's, we've seen firsthand how this potential translates into real impact when pet parents make the switch.
Every bag of Jiminy's represents a choice—for better nutrition, for environmental responsibility, and for a food system that works better for everyone. And the best part? Your dog will never know they're saving the world, one delicious meal at a time.
Read more in The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/science/pets-food-insects-lab-meat.html
Emily Anthes is a science reporter who writes Pet Theory, a column about our creature companions.