WACKER Enters EU Pet Food Additives Market With Fermentation-Based L-Cysteine and L-Cystine Solutions

WACKER’s L-cysteine-based solutions for pet food are suitable for a variety of applications, such as liquids, chewable products, tablets, and powders. Source: WACKER

(IN BRIEF) WACKER is entering the EU pet food additives market with its plant-based FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE and FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE products, which can be used as flavour precursors and flavour components to improve the smell, taste and palatability of food for cats and dogs. The company has received European Commission approval for L-cystine and L-cysteine as sensory additives for all animal species, following a positive safety assessment by EFSA, giving pet food manufacturers a clear regulatory framework for use of the products. WACKER produces FERMOPURE® through fermentation using plant-based glucose, with L-cystine created via a biotechnological process and L-cysteine produced through an additional electrolysis step, offering an alternative to conventionally sourced L-cysteine without animal-based raw materials. The approval strengthens WACKER’s position as a European source of supply for fermentation-based pet food ingredients and comes as the global pet food and treats market is expected to grow from USD 152.1 billion in 2026 to USD 259 billion by 2035, driven by rising pet ownership and demand for functional and natural pet food.

(PRESS RELEASE) MUNICH, 14-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — WACKER is entering the EU pet food additives market with its FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE and FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE products, expanding the use of its plant-based amino acid solutions into pet food applications.

In pet food, flavourings are used to improve smell and taste, helping increase the palatability of food for cats and dogs.

Because pets have a particularly strong sense of smell and taste, flavourings can also help make nutritionally valuable but less appealing ingredients more attractive.

WACKER said its L-cysteine- and L-cystine-based solutions are designed for such applications and can support innovative pet food formulations.

The company is a global supplier of ingredients for the food industry and also develops and manufactures ingredients for pet food products.

Use in pet food

With FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE and FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE, WACKER offers plant-based products that can be used in pet food as flavour precursors and flavour components.

During production, the ingredients react with reducing sugars in the Maillard reaction, generating characteristic meaty and savoury flavours.

The vegan products have already been established in the food industry for several years.

As the largest Western manufacturer of L-cysteine and L-cystine, WACKER is now extending their range of applications to pet food.

The solutions are effective even at low doses and are suitable for several dosage forms, including liquids, chewable products, tablets and powders.

EU approval expands product opportunities

Christian Hauk, Head of BioIngredients at WACKER’s Biosolutions business division, said the new EU approval allows the company to expand its pet food product range in Europe to include amino acids produced through fermentation.

He said the approval ensures that customers receive plant-based products with high quality and full traceability.

WACKER has received approval from the European Commission for the amino acids L-cystine and L-cysteine as sensory additives for all animal species.

The approval opens an important market for the company, which has been supplying ingredients for pet food in the United States for more than ten years.

With approval for L-cysteine derived from fermented L-cystine for use in animal feed for all animal species, WACKER said it occupies a unique position in the EU market.

The European Commission approval followed a positive safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority, known as EFSA.

This gives pet food manufacturers a clear regulatory framework for using FERMOPURE® products for all animal species.

The approval covers FERMOPURE® NATURAL L-CYSTINE PET FOOD as well as several variants of FERMOPURE® VEGAN L-CYSTEINE PET FOOD.

These include L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate, L-cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 20 mesh, L-cysteine hydrochloride anhydrous and L-cysteine free base.

Plant-based fermentation process

WACKER produces FERMOPURE® through fermentation using plant-based glucose.

In this process, L-cystine is produced using a suitable production strain of E. coli bacteria and then purified.

For L-cysteine, an additional step is used: L-cystine is reduced to L-cysteine through electrolysis.

Unlike conventional manufacturing methods, the L-cystine used in FERMOPURE® is produced through a natural biotechnological process.

WACKER said this enables sustainable production without animal-based raw materials, offering an alternative to conventionally sourced L-cysteine.

Global growth in pet food

The global market for pet food and treats was valued at USD 145.2 billion in 2025.

According to a report from Global Market Insights Inc., the market is expected to grow from USD 152.1 billion in 2026 to USD 259 billion by 2035.

The European market was valued at USD 43.2 billion in 2025.

WACKER said growth is being driven by the rising number of pet owners and the increasing anthropomorphisation of pets, which is accompanied by stronger demand for functional and natural pet food.

Through the EU approval of its FERMOPURE® product range for pet food, WACKER is expanding its presence in a growing market while providing pet food manufacturers with a European source of supply for traceable, fermentation-based flavour solutions.

Media Contact:

Media Relations
Dr Karsten Werth
Tel. +49 89 6279-1573

SOURCE: Wacker Chemie AG