Pet Food Processing - January 2024 - 31

FOOD SAFETY
production process. This evolution is a direct response to
historical challenges, demonstrating a commitment to both
the wellbeing of pets and peace of mind for pet owners.
" The pet food industry has seen a number of issues with
recalls for Salmonella spp. contamination, vitamin D excess,
and foreign material contamination, " Johnson said. " These
risk factors, which can arise at any point from raw ingredient
supply to processing and warehousing, necessitate a
vigilant approach to safety. "
Ensuring the integrity of pet food involves vigilant
management at every stage of production. Critical control
points (CCPs) are strategically established to address potential
risks, tailored to the unique processes of both wet
and dry pet food manufacturing. These CCPs are not just
checkpoints but are part of a comprehensive approach to
prevent contamination and safeguard the health of pets and
their owners.
" For wet pet food, having a safe process in the inbound
area is essential, " Povlsen said. " Here, a metal detector is
a given and standard. However, by first implementing an
optical sorter, the process will also be safeguarded against
plastic, hairnets, bones, gloves, etc. The right sorter will be
able not only to sort out the foreign materials but also to
identify the type of FM and quantify how much per batch.
This way, the process can be monitored in real-time; batches
containing, for example, too many bones, can be stopped
before going into the mixer, and each batch and supplier
can be traced back. "
Not unlike the human food
side, pet food also experiences
the same types of hazards
within food processing. "
Billie Johnson, Ph.D., BHJ North America
In the final stages of dry pet food production, attention
to detail is crucial. The addition of an optical sorter in the
line is key, ensuring the precise removal of any foreign materials
and safeguarding the quality of final product.
Adapting safety protocols to the specific circumstances
of each production site demonstrates the dynamic nature
of risk management in the pet food industry. Recognizing
that no two facilities are the same, the industry employs a
targeted approach to critical control points, ensuring that
safety measures are as effective as they are specific.
" Determining CCPs or preventive controls is an important
part of the site food safety team as well as understanding
what can be controlled through prerequisite programs, "
Johnson said. " Some sites may determine that contamination
is most likely to occur within the processing lines
where metal-on-metal contamination risks may exist, and
thus implement a metal detection system as part of their
CCPs. This will be based on
history for the site, possible customer
complaints, as well as industry
events. A good understanding of what constitutes
a 'risk' is important for each site and can allow
differing plants, that may exist side by side, to have differing
critical control points. "
Unseen safety challenges
In pet food production, addressing visible contaminants
is crucial, but the unseen dangers like mycotoxins and
pathogens in raw food present a more insidious challenge.
Mycotoxins are toxic compounds produced by molds and
harmful bacteria, and require advanced safety strategies for
effective management.
" Mycotoxins can be a serious threat to our pets' health,
and there is a risk of mycotoxin contamination in many
common pet food ingredients, " said Kami Grandeen, sales
manager, North America companion animal business,
Alltech, Lexington, Ky. " Testing is key to understanding
the risk. Alltech conducts a yearly Harvest Analysis in the
United States, testing over 400 ingredient samples from
across the country. The final report provides the most relevant
mycotoxin insights to empower choices on ingredient
purchasing and development of a testing strategy. "
Alltech, a leading global animal health and nutrition
company, has also developed a rapid mycotoxin detection
test that can be conducted on-site to provide quick and accurate
results. This technology empowers pet food manufacturers
with the ability to take proactive measures in preventing
mycotoxin contamination in their products.
" Mitigation starts with understanding the risk through
identification and quantification, " Grandeen added.
" Mycotoxins can be identified and measured through testing
programs like Alltech 37+®, using mass spectrometry
(LCMS-MS) to identify 54 mycotoxins, or through Alltech®
RAPIREAD™, a quick way to identify six common mycotoxins.
Both 37+ and RAPIREAD data can be uploaded to
the Mycotoxin Management Portal and stored in a secure
location. The portal is an easy way to analyze and interwww.petfoodprocessing.net
| January 2024 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 31
When processing wet
pet food, processors
can use the TOMRA
5B belt sorter to safeguard
against foreign
material and bones
before ingredients go
into the mixer.
TOMRA
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
Pet Food Processing - January 2024

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