PET Food Processing - December 2022 - 40

FORMULATION
Corn starch
is a common
carbohydrate that
can be used as a
binder in canned pet
food products.
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elimination of many important vitamins, minerals and
fiber. Too much animal protein can lead to high-fat,
calorie-dense diets with high-fat diets being difficult for
some dogs to digest. Additionally, calorie-dense diets
can contribute to overweight animals.
" Because cats and dogs evolved as Carnivora, many
consumers think they require extremely high protein
and fat concentrations in the diet and avoid carbohydrates, "
said Kelly Swanson, professor at the College of
Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences,
Department of Animal Sciences and Division of
Nutritional Sciences, at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. " However, carbohydrates may
not only provide benefits from a processing perspective,
but they also serve as an economical and easily
digestible energy source (starch), provide benefits for
laxation, weight management and blood glucose/lipid
control (fibers) and may serve as prebiotics important
for gut health. "
" People often don't
make the connection
that carbs are a great
source of fiber. "
Carolyn Kennedy, CK Nutrition
Beneficial fiber promotes regular bowel movements
that support healthy digestion, regulates pH within the
colon and contributes to the growth of beneficial gut
bacteria. Fiber is indigestible in the gut of pets but is
used within the gut microbiome to help control energy
content and support gastrointestinal health. The evolu40
PET FOOD PROCESSING | December 2022 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
tion from wild to domesticated animals has created tolerance
for carbs and domestication of dogs allows them
to do well on a diet rich in starch.
" People often don't make the connection that carbs
are a great source of fiber, " said Carolyn Kennedy, director,
CK Nutrition, Exeter, NH. " If you cut out carbs, you
still need to include fiber, and carbs are fiber. "
Without some form of fiber, product characteristics
may be negatively impacted. Fiber assists with the extrusion
process, helping ingredients move through the extruder
and assisting with form and structure of the kibble.
Many canned foods use carbohydrates as gelling agents.
It's also important to determine the correct level of
fiber. For example, indoor pets might need more fiber
than more active outdoor pets. The inclusion of
too little fiber or too much fiber in a formulation can
create problems for animals and manufacturers alike.
Fiber-containing carbohydrates must also go through
the gelatinization process to ensure the pet can digest
the food.
Functionally, starch is important for extruded products.
Starch promotes binding, homogenization, provides
structure to dough, and is a source of energy that
aids in processing. The inclusion of starch in a formulation
provides shape, hardness, texture and density to extruded
kibble, and improves the palatability of food and
its intake. This makes it a popular inclusion for treats
targeting dental health.
Ingredients such as corn starch can be used as a binder
in canned loaf products or to create structured pieces
in chunks and gravy recipes. Cargill, Minneapolis, offers
a range of label friendly texturizing solutions that
simplify reading labels for consumers. For example,
labels state corn starch, potato starch or tapioca starch,
but bring functional properties similar to the modified
starches they replace.
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PET Food Processing - December 2022

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