PET Food Processing - September 2019 - 41

FORMULATION

THE PULSE
ON PULSES
Sustainable ingredients that pack a punch for pet nutrition.
By Donna Berry | petfoodprocessing@sosland.com

Chickpeas, lentils, dried beans and peas - these ingredients are collectively known as pulses. They are invading the human food and beverage space, so it should be
no surprise that their presence in pet food is growing.
Many of today's pet owners are applying human food
philosophies to the products they select for their furry
companions. This includes the consumption of more
plant-based foods such as pulses.
"Pet food trends closely follow human food trends,
so with the increased focus on sustainable eating, gluten-free diets and plant-based protein, pulses have become a popular ingredient for pet food," says Jennifer
Adolphe, nutrition manager, Petcurean, Chilliwack,
British Columbia, Canada. "There are a variety of pulses
that can be used in pet foods. As a nutrient-dense food
source that is locally grown in Canada and the US, dried
yellow and green field peas in particular are appealing
to health- and environmentally-conscious consumers."

A mixed bag

The use of pulses in pet food is driven by their multifunctionality, accessibility and cost efficiency, according
to Christopher Marinangeli, director of research, scientific and regulatory affairs, Pulse Canada, Winnipeg,
Manitoba, Canada. Dried peas are the most utilized
pulse in pet food, followed by chickpeas, lentils and all
other pet food-approved dried beans.

Peas are low cost and widely available, he says.
Chickpeas can carry a higher cost and have a higher oil
content compared to peas. Lentils can also cost more than
peas. But in general, all pulses are rich in protein and fiber.
At one point in time, pulses were considered fillers.
They were economic replacements for meat and poultry,
as they maintained a desirable nutrition profile while
reducing costs associated with animal protein. Today,
pulses are recognized as sustainable crops that provide a
desirable balance of macro- and micro-nutrients.
Pet food formulators need to be aware that not all
pulses are created equal. Some contribute compounds
that may or may not agree with dogs and cats at different life stages. Other considerations include issues with
limiting amino acids and anti-nutrients. And, with the
recent rise in grain-free diets, the potential connection
to canine heart disease.
While most dogs are able to exist on properly balanced meatless diets, cats are obligate carnivores. They
require meat products in their diet due to their taurine
requirement and inability to convert carotene to retinol.
This means a vegetarian diet does not supply enough
vitamin A to cats. Pulses may be part of their diet, but
not their sole source of amino acids. That makes pulses
much more common in dog foods than cat foods.
"Cats also have a simpler, shorter digestive tract with
limited fermentative capacity for plant-based ingredients,"

Pulses have been
around in the pet
food industry for a
long time as fillers but
have been recently
rediscovered as a
viable and sustainable
source of nutrients
and protein.
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