Classification and functional analysis of pet food

Classification of pet food

Commercial pet food is an easy and affordable way to meet your pet's nutritional needs. In North America, Japan, Northern Europe, Australia and New Zealand, these foods provide more than 90% of the calories that pets consume. Commercial pet food comes in three basic forms: dry, semi-moist, and wet. According to the recommendations of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), most pet foods are produced to meet specific nutritional goals to support growth, maintenance, or pregnancy/nursing. These goals are extrapolated from scientific research and define minimum requirements or safe upper limits for nutrients in different physiological states. Targeted nutrients include calories, protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals needed to sustain life and optimize performance where possible.

1. Dry food

Dry food is by far a major part of the pet food industry because of its ease of storage and feeding. Dry food is primarily in pellet form and is usually formed through a process called extrusion, which uses the same technology used to produce breakfast cereals for people. Other methods include baking, peeling, granulating, and grinding food to achieve a dry state. Dry foods prevent spoilage due to their low moisture content, and antioxidants are added to prevent oxidative damage. Antioxidants can be of either natural origin, such as vitamin E, or synthetic ingredients, such as BHA, BHT.

To produce extruded foods, the respective ingredients are mixed and extruded using a combination of steam, pressure and temperature. The extrusion process places the raw material at a temperature of 100 to 200°C at a pressure of between 34 and 37 atmospheres, a pressure sufficient to effectively achieve an industry-standard food sterilization process. The resulting extruded material had approximately 25% moisture prior to drying, resulting in a final moisture content of 8% to 10%. At this humidity level, mold formation is inhibited.

2. Semi-moist food

Semi-moist foods are a smaller but important segment of the artificial pet food market. Moisturizers and acidification methods are used in the production process to control moisture and inhibit mold growth. Semi-moist foods are low in fiber and relatively high in sugar, which makes them very tasty, but also not ideal for fiber-based weight management applications. Thanks to the addition of humectants, semi-moist foods are produced in a similar way to extruded foods that maintain high levels of moisture, resulting in a final moisture content of between 25% and 35%. Semi-moist foods are prone to mildew and spoilage, which are mainly mitigated by mold or bacterial inhibitors and by managing active water components in the food. Water activity Aw is a measure of the amount of water needed for bacterial growth, and the addition of humectants helps keep it at a low level, which effectively inhibits bacterial growth.

3. Wet canned food

Wet canned foods have historically held a large share of the pet food market. Wet foods have a high moisture content, usually 60 to 87 percent. The presence of a gelling agent such as starch is required to achieve the final consistency. Many wet foods are higher in meat than dry foods.

Functional analysis of pet food

1. Introduction of functional pet food

Functionality is a new development branch of the pet food industry, a concept that is often mentioned in the pet food range. Different from the traditional pet food industry, when choosing raw materials, it pays more attention to ensure that the nutrition of the finished product is comprehensive and balanced. On this basis, functional pet food will also refine and emphasize certain functions. Pet food and ingredients are defined as "functional" and are claimed to provide health benefits beyond basic nutrients (vitamins, minerals, water, protein, carbohydrates and fats).

For example, a formula specially designed for obese pets with weight control effect, in addition to a reasonable formula, the selection requirements for raw materials are also more clear and refined. It is also a raw material that can provide dietary fiber. The functional formula will also consider other requirements such as low-fat, low-calorie, and low-carb.

As consumers become more demanding in pet food, and formulators seek classic and novel ingredients to meet customer demands, some functional foods are gaining traction. Functional foods include fruits and vegetables, plants, whole grains, dietary supplements (pycnogenol, collagen, coenzyme Q10, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate, etc.), probiotics, prebiotics, etc. .

2. Research basis of functional pet food

Optimizing the nutrition and health of companion animals, based on a thorough understanding of dog (canine) and cat (feline) metabolism, is the key to functional pet food.

Dogs and cats show significant differences in the digestion of certain foods, e.g. cats are carnivorous, but dogs appear to be omnivorous like humans but share carnivorous traits as they both lack salivary amylase, The gastrointestinal tract is short and cannot synthesize vitamin D. In contrast, dogs have three genes, AMY2B, MGAM and SGLT1, that evolved during domestication and are involved in starch digestion and glucose uptake. Another characteristic of dogs' digestive systems is their ability to synthesize several essential nutrients, such as niacin, taurine, and arginine. In the case of cats, they can only break down and utilize amino acids as an energy source for gluconeogenesis.

Therefore, a distinction must be made between dog and cat nutrition. Cat nutrition is a carnivore with different nutritional needs compared to dogs. Cats' diets consist of 52% protein, 36% fat, and 12% carbohydrate. In a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial involving 55 cats with chronic diarrhea, fecal score (FSA) was assessed for high-fat (10%) and low-fat (2.3%) in digestible diets. (Soy flakes, soy protein isolate, turkey and turkey by-product meal, cornstarch, oat flour, oat fiber, tallow, vitamins and minerals). There were no significant differences between the two diets, suggesting that dietary fat mass is not a critical factor in dietary management in cats with diarrhea.

3. Several functional raw materials

Coconut oil can be regarded as one of the functional raw materials that has been successfully developed and matured. Coconut oil is now not only used in the pet food industry, but also very common in pet medicines, health products, medical supplies, etc. Coconut oil is good for your pet's skin and hair, and can improve your pet's brain development.

Purple corn is a multi-faceted and prominent functional ingredient. Purple corn fits the pet food trend very well. It's organic, whole grain, clean, and has more antioxidant power than blueberry, acai, and pomegranate juice because it contains extremely high levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins. When it comes to pet food specifically, purple corn meets many of the health requirements pet owners are looking for, including supporting joint health, weight management, digestive health and blood sugar, among others.

In addition, powdered or liquid supplements or gravy are a popular way to impart functional benefits abroad. It's a unique way of adding functional ingredients, rather than (formulators) putting it directly into the food; it allows customers to add it themselves and feel like their pets are getting attention.