PET Food Processing - March 2019 - 43

and its superior water-binding properties. It comes in a
variety of grind sizes to match the needs of the application. "We juice our sweet potatoes before drying them,
producing a lower-sugar product than the typical process of drying whole sweet potatoes," Verderber says.
"Many pet owners are trying to move away from white
flour, as it adds no nutritive value and can contribute
to weight gain," Verderber says. "Typical alternatives to
this ingredient are whole grains, such as corn, oats or
brown rice. However, for pet owners looking to decrease
or eliminate grain from their pet's diet in order to improve digestion, our sweet potato flour is a grain- and
gluten-free clean-label replacement to get your pet the
complex carbohydrates they need to thrive."
Carolina Innovative Food Ingredients is working
directly with its customers to uncover new opportunities for sweet potato ingredients in pet foods and treats.
Sweet potato syrup, for example, can bind granola
products. Dehydrated products have been shown to enhance the flavor, nutritive benefits and natural color of
meat-based treats.

On top

Kibble toppers are becoming the latest rage in the
premium pet food sector. They allow pet parents to feed
their furry friends a familiar and nutritionally proven
recipe, but with a little twist.
"Toppers are generally wet mixtures poured over
dry kibble. They contain fruit and vegetable purees,

often with better-for-you grains like oats and quinoa,"
Swedberg says. "Powdered toppers can be sprinkled atop
kibble or mixed into wet foods and are made with fruit
and vegetable powders. These are mixed and matched to
provide pets with different benefits, such as plant protein, fiber and antioxidants with all the same benefits
we're seeing in people foods."
Tree Top has developed numerous kibble topper recipes. Its apple pumpkin cranberry formula with chicken
powder is designed to appeal to the pickiest eaters, while
its apple butternut squash spinach with quinoa variety
adds plant protein, iron and lots of fiber. "The berries
and pears with oats formulation provides important
gluten-free carbohydrates for energy," Swedberg says.
"Oats are also full of linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty
acid that helps keep skin strong and healthy. And they
are a good source of heart-healthy soluble fiber."
As pet owners focus more on the quality of the food
as well as the meal experience, processors are rapidly expanding the options they offer. "The pet food market has
come a long way as pets have risen to family member
status," Payne says. "Pet food today is more than about
functionality and basic survival. It is also about selfactualization. Health, taste, likeability, ease of use, political correctness all come into play. While pet food continues to be scooped out of a can or poured from a bag,
there are differences in ingredients and packaging over
the last decade with products designed to appeal to owners and their values."
PFP

Pumpkin provides
multiple benefits for
pet health, but predominantly it is used
to ease digestion and
incorporated into formulas for animals with
sensitive stomachs.
Van Drunen Farms

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PET Food Processing - March 2019

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