Pet Food Processing - January 2024 - 41

FORMULATION
DIGESTING
A
The benefits of pet food formulated for gut
health extend beyond the gastrointestinal tract.
By Allison Gibeson | petfoodprocessing@sosland.com
A pet food could have impressive nutritional content,
but the animal won't fully benefit from that nutrition if
their body can't easily digest the food. This consideration
combined with the fact that the digestive system plays a
major role in boosting a pet's overall health and immune
system has led pet food processors to focus on developing
products specifically formulated for digestibility.
" We can't change the DNA of pets, but we do have the
ability to affect the longevity of pets through the digestibility
of foods, " said Gili Wizen, founder of Blue Bell,
Pa.-based Cooper & Friends.
To this end, digestive health products are being formulated
with specific life-stage considerations and need
states in mind to benefit every pet.
" Understanding the significance of the digestive system
in their pet's overall wellbeing is the first step to pet
parents selecting the right digestive health nutrition for
their pets, " said Jennifer Adolphe, Ph.D., pet food technical
sales manager for ADM, Chicago. " Additionally,
recognizing how age and specific dietary needs might
influence digestive capabilities is crucial. Pet parents
must choose foods and supplements that align with their
pet's digestive requirements, considering factors like
age-related changes and any specific dietary intolerances
or sensitivities their pet may have. "
The demand for digestible products continues to
grow, as research from FMCG Gurus indicates more
than half of global pet owners would like to see digestive
health claims on products, Adolphe said.
Breaking down the barriers
" We want the ingredients we use to provide nutrients
that are readily available to be used by the pet, " said
Renee Streeter, DVM, principal nutritionist for BSM
Partners, Bentonville, Ark. " We also want those nutrients
to specifically help improve gut health, which can
in turn help to further nutrient absorption. Also, no one
likes to have to deal with sloppy stools, so helping pets
have a solid stool is very appealing to most people from
a sanitation perspective. "
Wizen said digestibility is based on how much of the
food's nutritional value can be observed in the blood
and used in the body's tissues. As an offering designed
for maximum digestibility, Cooper & Friends provides
a line of functional dog treats that include human-grade
protein and are produced using a gentle process to preserve
nutrients from fresh vegetables and supplements.
The line includes varieties of insects and salmon jerky,
round beef jerky, tilapia fillet jerky, pork loin jerky, and
chicken breast jerky.
Cooper & Friends focuses on three layers of health -
ingredients, science-backed supplements and a gentle
process - to allow their products containing fresh vegetables
and supplements to deliver maximum benefits.
www.petfoodprocessing.net | January 2024 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 41
Pets can't choose
the food that
best suits their
digestive tract,
so it's up to pet
parents to do
the research to
determine what's
best for their dog
or cat.
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http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
Pet Food Processing - January 2024

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