Although a complete and utter amateur in the world of fermentation, I know enough to understand that it is showing tremendous potential in the food industry of the future, including the creation of animal-free products that are bio-identical to dairy to effectively ‘mimic’ cow-based milk, butter and cheese products.
So, we’re not just talking kimchi here! But whilst these kinds of fermented alternatives are not yet available for human food products in the UK, this interesting dog food is, and I was lucky enough to be sent a bag to try.
So read this MicroBell dog food review to find out why I think this could be one of the most sustainable, eco-friendly dog food products you can buy.
Pros
- very eco-friendly
- extremely tasty
- appealing smell
- hypoallergenic
- vegan
- nutritionally complete
Cons
- it’s not cheap
I buy my dog food from Just be Kind who give my readers 15% discount – use code VEGANMUM at checkout
My experience
For this MicroBell dog food review, I fed this product to my dog, Coco, and my son’s dog, Sundi, for 1 month. I also offered it as treats to Coco’s various canine pals we met on our walks and I can honestly say that it’s the most popular dog biscuit I’ve ever given out.
Not only that, this sustainable dog food is now the mainstay of Sundi’s diet as she has now switched over to it from her beloved Omni! See my Omni dog food review for more info on this other high quality vegan dog food brand.
Both dogs thrived on MicroBell, looked forward to their mealtimes, remained energetic, had full tummies, and – sorry, I can’t write a dog food review without mentioning this factor – poos were consistently plump and healthy!
That’s great news for their anal glands, and even better news for the person who has to pick them up…
But, if your budget is tight, it’s worth saying now that this is not a cheap product. So, let’s look at this product’s sustainability, hypoallergenic credentials, palatability and cost in some more detail.
It’s eco-friendly dog food
You’ll be glad to know that I’m not about to go all scientific on you. As if I could! So, I’ll leave that to the experts and you can read more about the fermented protein used in MicroBell – which effectively mimics animal protein – on the Calysta website (the organisation that operates the fermentation platform).
But in brief, the production of the protein contained in this sustainable pet product uses no arable land, plant or animal products, and the process is powered by renewable energy. Not only that, it also comes in recyclable paper packaging.
So, I think it’s pretty impressive all round.
MicroBell is great for sensitivities
This food is great for dogs suffering from allergies and intolerances because it is vegan, and both grain and gluten free.
It also contains a specific amino acid that actively soothes the gut lining whilst also imparting the amazing smell and flavour which makes this food so different.
Coco has a particularly sensitive tummy and pancreas, so the fact that this food is hypoallergenic and with low fat levels was perfect and she remained fit, well and comfortable whilst eating it.
And an added bonus for Sundi is that her dry, itchy skin has significantly improved since changing over to it.
It’s very tasty
I’m not entirely surprised by the appeal of this product. MicroBell biscuits are clearly very tasty and smell a bit like smoky bacon crisps, only better! Much of this is down to the lovely ingredients, including sweet potato which so many dogs love, and the amino acid I mentioned earlier in this article.
Whatever it is, it has been very popular with Coco and Sundi and with their various canine pals. In fact they smell so good I’ve even been tempted myself!
The biscuit size is good – measuring about 1cm across – although for Coco’s small, almost toothless mouth they are a bit more solid than her normal biscuits (see my Green Crunch review for her normal choice). She still happily eats them, but can’t break them down quite as effectively without adding a bit of plant milk.
And presumably the fibre levels are good too because both Sundi and Coco seemed to remain full and not constantly pestering for more food.
Price could be an issue
There is, however, a price to pay for this level of quality and for it being such a sustainably made dog food. If you subscribe with the Just be Kind dog food store and buy 4kg bags, you’ll pay around £9.56 per kilo.
So, just a little eyewatering. But don’t forget you can benefit from my exclusive 15% discount code – use VEGANMUM at checkout which helps to bring the price down.
And I would hope that over time, this kind of product will start to become more affordable.
My verdict on this MicroBell dog food review
Yes, it’s pricey and may be more than you are prepared to spend. But if it’s not, I would strongly recommend giving this sustainable dog food a try.
It’s nutritious, tasty, filling, and has been extremely popular with every dog I have offered it to. And most importantly, it is kind to your dog, kind to all other sentient beings, and a good choice for the planet.
Perhaps it’s a small price to pay after all!
Discount code: VEGANMUM
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