PET Food Processing - December 2019 - 34

INGREDIENTS

that corn, rice and their ingredient derivatives are fillers when, in fact, ingredients like corn gluten meal are
highly digestible and good for pet health," says Yvonne
Wang, animal food scientist at Wild Earth.
Gagne explains other benefits grains offer. "When it
comes to the nutrients pets need, grains deliver. Grains
provide antioxidants, energy-rich carbohydrates and fiber to promote digestion. In fact, grains, especially corn,
are key for helping pets to digest the other nutrients in
their food. Grains in dog food can also support healthy
skin and hair, plus support healthy immune systems and
more," he says.

The importance of additives

Fresh or frozen pet food
delivery services are
becoming more popular
and offer a better alternative to homemade
diets, which might not
meet the complete and
balanced requirements.
NomNomNow

Food safety has always been a priority in pet food manufacturing. The fact is that modern distribution networks
necessitate the use of preservatives to ensure customers
purchase and use products that are of the highest quality after what may be months of storage. Yet, traditional
preservatives with their often chemical-sounding names
are no longer welcome by many pet parents.
"Consumers want their pets' food to be fresh and safe,
but they prefer that those attributes be delivered through
more natural solutions," says Robert Ames, senior business development manager, meat and pet food, Corbion,
Lenexa, Kansas. "Manufacturers can choose proven preservative solutions that use plant-based antioxidants and
organic acids like vinegar, which are naturally produced
through fermentation, to slow oxidation and inhibit
spoilage and pathogens."

PET FOOD PROCESSING | December 2019 | www.petfoodprocessing.net

In dry pet food applications, where the concern is often largely about the loss of shelf life due to lipid oxidation, antioxidant solutions based on natural plant
extracts can be highly effective. "The use of natural antioxidants has become commonplace in the pet food industry," Mann says.
While smell and taste are important, aesthetics have
also become an important consideration in pet food
manufacturing. Pet parents buy with their eyes. "The
movement toward natural flavors, colors and ingredients
is no longer limited to the human food and beverage
industry," says Chris Naese, vice president of business
development, Florida Food Products, Eustis, Florida.
"We're seeing an uptick in interest in integrating fruitand vegetable-based ingredients into premium pet
nutrition products."
While fruits and vegetables introduce visual appeal
and nutrition, some formats provide functionality, such
as stabilization and texture development. They may be
able to replace less desirable gums and starches. "We
don't think it's a fad that consumers want their pet foods
and treats free from artificial ingredients, colors and additives, since pet parents hold the same standards for
pet food as they do food for themselves," says Jeannie
Swedberg, director of business development, Tree Top
Food Ingredients, Selah, Washington. "More pet food
manufacturers are taking advantage of the benefits of
fruit ingredients."
Cranberries led the pack for fruit inclusions in pet
foods in the past year, followed by blueberries, then

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PET Food Processing - December 2019

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