Pet food product and package

Abstract

This pet food product (1) includes: a container (2) provided with a housing part (23) and a handle part (24) extending from the housing part (23); and wet food (3) housed in the housing part (2). When a load of 2 N is exerted at a position of 57% of the length of the handle part (24) in the longitudinal direction of the handle part (24) from a point P at which the handle part (24) and the housing part (23) are joined, bending of 5 mm or more occurs in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the handle part (24) from the point P in cross-sectional view.

Description

Pet food products and packaging

[0001] This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-012244, filed on January 30, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] Pet food can be divided into staple foods and snacks depending on the occasion for which it is given. Pet food used as a staple food is called a "complete nutritional food" and is made so that pets can obtain all the nutrients they need by simply giving the pet food and water. On the other hand, "snacks" are pet foods intended to be given in limited amounts for training, exercise, or as a reward. Pet food can be classified by purpose into "complete nutritional foods," "snacks," "therapeutic foods," and "foods for other purposes" that do not fall into any of the above categories.

[0003] Pet foods are broadly classified based on their moisture content into dry foods with a moisture content of about 10% (12% or less), soft foods with a moisture content of about 25-35% and which have been foamed, semi-moist foods with a moisture content of about 25-35% and which have not been foamed, and wet foods with a moisture content of about 75%.

[0004] Demand for wet food has been increasing in recent years due to its high palatability among pets. Because wet food has a high moisture content, it is usually fed to pets in a container such as a dish.

[0005] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a packaged wet food container that includes a tool portion that extends from the rim and exceeds the at least one wall of the container containing the wet food. Patent Document 1 describes that after the package is opened and the wet food is placed on a container such as a plate, the tool can be used to cut or break the wet food.

[0006] On the other hand, stick-shaped multilayer film containers (so-called stick types) are also widely used for products that are consumed shortly after opening. Stick types have the advantage of being easily fed directly to pets. However, when using stick-shaped film containers with viscous contents, the container is often squeezed out to the last drop. However, if the contents are not left near the break opening during the final squeeze, the contents may stick to the fingertips, staining the fingers and hands. In response to this, a simple squeezer that can squeeze out the contents without staining the hands has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0007] JP 2021-46253 A Utility Model Registration No. 3218518 A

[0008] When wet food is stored in a container, the water separates from the wet food over time, and if it is fed to a pet in a separated state, there may be variations in palatability depending on the part of the food that is eaten, or the food may become rough in some places, affecting ease of eating.

[0009] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a pet food product that allows the contents of the wet food to be thoroughly mixed when feeding the wet food to a pet, and that stabilizes the palatability of wet food even if some time has passed since production, and a package that contains the pet food product.

[0010] To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention includes the following aspects. (1) A pet food product including a container having a storage portion and a handle portion extending from the storage portion, and wet food stored in the storage portion, wherein, when a load of 2 N is applied to the handle portion at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P where the handle portion and the storage portion join, the handle portion bends by 2 mm or more in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle portion in a cross-sectional view from point P. (2) The pet food product described in (1) above, wherein the length of the handle portion is 15 mm or more. (3) The pet food product described in (1) or (2) above, wherein, when a load of 2 N is applied to the handle portion at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P where the handle portion and the storage portion join, the handle portion bends by 20% or more of the distance D from point P to the bottom of the storage portion. (4) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (3), wherein the handle has a handle portion Q that serves as a marker for the handle when shaking the pet food product. (5) The pet food product according to (4), wherein the handle portion Q is located 10 mm to 35 mm from the point P in the longitudinal direction of the handle. (6) The pet food product according to (4) or (5), wherein the handle portion Q has a recess. (7) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (6), further comprising a gas barrier lid removably joined to the opening edge of the storage portion. (8) The pet food product according to (7), wherein the gas barrier lid extends beyond the end of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle. (9) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein the thickness of the handle is 0.8 mm to 2 mm. (10) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the container is provided with a display section that suggests shaking the pet food product before feeding the wet food to a pet. (11) A package containing a plurality of the pet food products according to any one of (1) to (10) and an oxygen absorber. (12) The package according to (11), which is provided with a display section that suggests shaking the pet food product before feeding the wet food to a pet.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a pet food product that allows the contents of the wet food to be thoroughly mixed when feeding the wet food to a pet, and that stabilizes the palatability of wet food even if some time has passed since production, and a package containing the pet food product.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to line II' in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing examples of shapes of a handle portion in a pet food product according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a pet food product according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] In this specification, the term "pet" refers to an animal kept by a human. In a narrower sense, a pet is an animal kept as a pet by its owner. Furthermore, the term "pet food" refers to feed for pets. The pet food of the present invention can be sold as "animal feed" or "animal food."

[0014] In this specification, "palatability" is an index of whether a food is enjoyed by pets and is determined by texture, taste, smell, and the like.

[0015] In this specification, the moisture content (wt%) of pet food is determined by the atmospheric pressure heat drying method. The moisture content determined by this method includes the moisture in the ingredients. (Atmospheric Pressure Heat Drying Method) The weight of an aluminum weighing can (W1 gram) is measured in advance as a constant value. A sample is placed in this aluminum weighing can and weighed (W2 grams). Next, the sample is dried using a forced circulation hot air dryer at 135°C for 2 hours. After cooling in a dry atmosphere (in a silica gel desiccator), the weight (W3 grams) is weighed. The moisture content is calculated from the obtained weights using the following formula: Moisture content (unit: wt%) = (W2 - W3) ÷ (W2 - W1) × 100

[0016] <Pet Food Product> Hereinafter, an embodiment of a pet food product of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment described below, corresponding components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof will be omitted in some cases. Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line II' in Fig. 1 of the pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1, the pet food product 1 includes a container 2 and wet food 3 contained in the container 2 .

[0018] (Container) The container 2 comprises a bottom 21, a peripheral wall 22 that extends upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom 21 and surrounds the periphery of the bottom 21, and together with the bottom 21 defines a storage section 23 that opens upward, and a handle 24 that extends outward from the peripheral wall 22.

[0019] The material of the container 2 is not particularly limited, but from the standpoint of moldability and storage stability of wet food, thermoplastic resins, metals such as aluminum and steel, paper materials used for food containers, edible materials such as biscuits, etc. are preferred, and thermoplastic resins are more preferred.

[0020] 1, the bottom 21 is circular. However, in this embodiment, the shape of the bottom 21 is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include a circle, an ellipse, a combination of two or more circles, a doughnut shape, a polygonal shape such as a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, or an octagon, a star shape, a heart shape, a cat face motif, or other irregular shapes. In particular, from the viewpoint of preventing pet food from being left over and making it easy to feed a pet in an appropriate posture, the bottom 21 is preferably a polygonal shape having six or more sides in a plan view or a circle, and more preferably a circle.

[0021] The peripheral wall portion 22 extends upward from the outer periphery of the bottom portion 21 and surrounds the periphery of the bottom portion 21, and together with the bottom portion 21 defines a storage portion 23 that opens upward. The peripheral wall portion 22 may be formed to have the same height around the entire periphery, or may be formed to have different heights in parts.

[0022] The peripheral wall 22 may have an opening edge 22a that extends horizontally from its upper end. A detachably joined lid 25 may be attached to the opening edge 22a (see FIG. 5). The width of the opening edge 22a is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 10 mm, more preferably 2 to 8 mm, and even more preferably 3 to 6 mm. The thickness of the opening edge 22a is also not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 1.8 mm, and even more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mm.

[0023] The depth of the storage section 23 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 5 mm or more, and more preferably 12 mm or more. The depth of the storage section 23 is preferably 20 mm or less, and even more preferably 18 mm or less. When the depth of the storage section 23 is within the above-mentioned preferred range, the contents of the wet food are easily mixed thoroughly when the pet food product is shaken, the uniformity of the contents with separated flavors is easily improved, and the appearance and palatability of the wet food are easily stabilized.

[0024] In this embodiment, the depth of the storage section 23 is the distance D from the lowest point of the bottom 21 to the highest point of the opening of the storage section 23 in a side cross-sectional view of the pet food product 1.

[0025] The opening diameter of the storage section 23 is not particularly limited, but is preferably φ20 mm or more, more preferably φ25 mm or more, and even more preferably φ30 mm or more. Furthermore, the opening diameter of the storage section 23 is preferably φ60 mm or less, more preferably φ45 mm or less, and even more preferably φ40 mm or less. When the opening diameter of the storage section 23 is within the above-described preferred range, the contents of the wet food are easily mixed thoroughly when the pet food product is shaken, the uniformity of the contents with separated flavors is easily improved, and the appearance and palatability of the wet food are easily stabilized.

[0026] In this embodiment, the opening diameter φ of the storage section 23 is the maximum diameter at the uppermost point of the opening of the storage section 23 when viewed in cross section from the side of the pet food product 1.

[0027] The handle 24 protrudes outward from the peripheral wall 22. From the viewpoint of facilitating sufficient mixing of the contents of the wet food when the pet food product is shaken, it is preferable that the handle 24 extend in a substantially horizontal direction from the upper part of the peripheral wall 22.

[0028] The length of the handle 24 is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 20 mm or more, and even more preferably 22 mm or more. The length of the handle 24 is preferably 40 mm or less, more preferably 39 mm or less, and even more preferably 38 mm or less. When the length of the handle 24 is within the above preferred range, the contents of the wet food are easily mixed thoroughly when the pet food product is shaken, the uniformity of the contents with separated flavors is easily improved, and the appearance and palatability of the wet food are easily stabilized.

[0029] In this embodiment, the length of the handle portion 24 refers to the distance L from the point P where the end of the peripheral wall portion 22 and the end of the handle portion 24 connect to the other end T of the handle portion 24 when viewed in cross section from the side of the pet food product 1.

[0030] The width of the handle portion 24 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 15 to 35 mm, more preferably 16 to 30 mm, and even more preferably 17 to 25 mm. Note that in this embodiment, the width of the handle portion 24 refers to the average value between the maximum and minimum widths of the handle portion 24 when the pet food product 1 is viewed in plan.

[0031] The thickness of the handle portion 24 is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.1 to 2.0 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 1.8 mm, and even more preferably 0.3 to 1.5 mm. In this embodiment, the thickness of the handle portion 24 refers to the average value of the maximum and minimum thicknesses of the handle portion 24 when viewed in cross section from the side of the pet food product 1. When the thickness of the handle portion 24 is within the above preferred range, the handle portion is more likely to bend when the pet food product is shaken, making it easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to a pet.

[0032] When a load of 2 N is applied to the handle at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P where handle 24 and storage portion 23 join, the handle bends by 2 mm or more, preferably 4 to 10 mm, and more preferably 5 to 9 mm, in a cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P (i.e., the up-and-down direction relative to the length L of handle 24 in FIG. 2 ). In other words, the pet food product according to this embodiment bends by a certain amount or more when the owner shakes it by holding the handle. Therefore, when shaking the pet food product, it becomes easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food, which makes it easier to improve the uniformity of the contents with separated flavor, and it also makes it easier to stabilize the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[0033] When a load of 2 N is applied to handle 24 at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of handle 24 (direction L in Figure 2) from point P where handle 24 and container 23 join, handle 24 preferably bends by 20% or more of the distance D from point P to the bottom of container 23, more preferably by 30% or more, and even more preferably by 35% or more. If the bending of the handle when the pet food product is shaken is within the above-mentioned preferred range, it becomes easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when the pet food product is shaken, it becomes easier to improve the uniformity of the contents whose flavor has been separated, and it becomes easier to stabilize the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[0034] The shape of the handle 24 is not particularly limited as long as the feeder can hold it in one hand. Figure 4 is a plan view showing an example of the shape of the handle in a pet food product according to an embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, the shape of the handle 24 may, for example, be a shape based on a pet motif, such as a paw, tail, cat (front or side), dog (front or side), rabbit (front or side), mouse, chicken, or deer, when viewed from above; a shape based on a food motif, such as fish, meat (lamb chops, bone-in meat, etc.), chicken, carrot, broccoli, fruit (banana, etc.), ice cream, or shellfish (oyster, etc.); a polygonal shape, such as a circle, triangle, square, trapezoid, or pentagon; a combination of an irregular shape, such as a star, heart, clover, ribbon, or crown, with an elongated shape; a shape based on a plant motif, such as a flower; or a combination of a shape based on a dish motif, such as a fork, and a shape based on a food motif, such as a boiled egg. The handle and container may be, but are not limited to, various animal, plant, or geometric patterns.

[0035] The handle 24 preferably has a handle Q that serves as a guide when shaking the pet food product. Examples of the handle Q include portions having the shapes of various motifs shown in FIG. 4, which are given as examples of the shape of the handle 24. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the handle Q is shaped like a pet's paw, but the shape of the handle Q is not limited to this. The owner can easily use the handle Q as a guide to grasp the handle 24 and shake the pet food product, making it easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to the pet.

[0036] Handle Q is preferably located 10 mm to 35 mm from point P in the longitudinal direction of handle 24. By having handle Q located within this range, the handle becomes more flexible when the owner shakes the pet food product, making it easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to a pet.

[0037] The handle Q preferably has a recess. The recess in the handle Q makes it easier to grasp the more flexible part of the handle, making it easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to the pet. The recess is typically formed by embossing the handle Q. Figures 1 to 3 show an example in which the handle Q is formed by embossing with a recess Q1 in the shape of an animal's paw print, but the shape of the recess is not limited to this, and various motifs exemplified as the shape of the handle 24 may be adopted.

[0038] In the pet food product of this embodiment, the filling rate of the wet food relative to the volume of the storage compartment may be 100% or less, preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, and even more preferably 65% ​​or less. When the filling rate of the wet food is within the above preferred range, it becomes easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to a pet. There is no particular limit to the lower limit of the filling rate of the wet food, but from the viewpoint of preventing burning during the production process, 50% or more is preferred.

[0039] (Modified Container) Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a pet food product according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Figure 5, a lid 25 is provided that is removably joined to the opening edge 22a. The lid 25 has gas barrier properties. Providing the lid 25 makes it easier to prevent deterioration of the wet food 3 in the storage section 23 over time until feeding.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, the lid 25 may have a peel-off portion 25a on the handle 24 side. If the lid 25 has the peel-off portion 25a on the handle 24 side, when the pet food product is shaken, the portion of the lid that extends beyond the end of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the lid handle (hereinafter simply referred to as the "extended portion") rubs against the fingers, making a unique sound that easily attracts a pet. In addition, because the extended portion of the lid also functions as an opening portion, the lid can be easily peeled off quickly after the pet food product is shaken to mix the wet food contents and attract a pet with the rubbing sound.

[0041] The lid 25 preferably extends beyond the end of the handle 24 in the longitudinal direction of the handle 24. A more preferred embodiment is one in which the lid 25 has a peel-off portion 25a on the handle 24 side, and the peel-off portion 25a extends beyond the end of the handle 24 in the longitudinal direction of the handle 24. By having the lid 25 extend beyond the end of the handle 24 in the longitudinal direction of the handle 24, when the pet food product is shaken, the portion of the lid that extends beyond the end of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle (hereinafter simply referred to as the "extended portion") rubs against the fingers, producing a unique sound that easily attracts pets. Furthermore, since the extended portion of the lid also functions as an opening portion, the lid can be easily peeled off quickly after shaking the pet food product to mix the wet food contents and attracting the pet with the rubbing sound.

[0042] In the pet food product according to this embodiment, the container preferably includes a display that suggests shaking the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet. Specific examples of the display include a configuration in which a message to shake the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet is printed on the outer periphery of the container, the surface of the handle, or the lid, or a configuration in which a sticker printed with a message to shake the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet is affixed to the outer periphery of the container or the surface of the handle. Having the above-described display in the pet food product makes it easier for pet owners to recognize that the contents of the wet food should be mixed before feeding it to their pet.

[0043] In this embodiment, wet food refers to pet food that contains more moisture than dry food that has been subjected to a drying process, as a final marketed form. The moisture content of the pet food is usually 50% by mass or more, preferably 60% by mass or more, more preferably 65% ​​by mass or more, and particularly preferably 70% by mass or more, based on the total mass of the pet food.

[0044] Wet food typically includes a base meat portion and may further include chunks and / or flakes. Here, "chunks" refers to the portion of raw materials solidified into small pieces, and "chunks" refers to a collection of chunks. "Flakes" refers to finely chopped fish or meat. The "base meat" portion refers to the wet portion of the pet food other than the chunks and flakes.

[0045] The proportion of chunks and / or flakes contained in the wet food is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0 to 30% by mass, more preferably 0 to 25% by mass, based on the mass of the entire pet food.

[0046] The shape of the chunks is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include pellets (grains) formed into spherical, polygonal, cylindrical, doughnut-shaped, plate-shaped, or go stone-shaped pellets (particles). The size of such pellets is not particularly limited, and, for example, the pellets placed on a horizontal table and viewed from above preferably have a minor and major diameter of 1 to 25 mm, and a thickness from the bottom (bottom) to the top (top) of the pellet on the horizontal table of 1 to 20 mm. More preferably, the minor and major diameters are 3 to 11 mm, and the thickness is 3 to 9 mm. Even more preferably, the minor and major diameters are 5 to 9 mm, and the thickness is 5 to 8 mm. The form of the base meat portion is not particularly limited, and examples include liquid, gel, solid, and combinations thereof. Furthermore, when a solid is incorporated into the base meat portion, the form is not particularly limited, and examples include the same forms as the chunks described above.

[0047] The proportions of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contained in the wet food are not particularly limited. For example, the proportion of protein contained in the pet food can be 26 to 60% by mass, more preferably 35 to 55% by mass, based on the dry matter equivalent mass of the entire pet food. The proportion of carbohydrates contained in the pet food can be 5 to 30% by mass, more preferably 10 to 20% by mass, based on the dry matter equivalent mass of the entire pet food. Furthermore, the proportion of lipids contained in the pet food can be 9 to 30% by mass, more preferably 20 to 30% by mass, based on the dry matter equivalent mass of the entire pet food.

[0048] In this embodiment, the physical properties of the contents are not particularly limited, but the viscosity of the wet food measured using a Bostwick viscosity meter is preferably 1 mm / min or more, more preferably 3 mm / min or more, and even more preferably 5 mm / min or more. Furthermore, the viscosity of the wet food measured using a Bostwick viscosity meter is preferably 100 mm / min or less, more preferably 80 mm / min or less, and even more preferably 60 mm / min or less. When the viscosity of the wet food is within the above preferred range, it becomes easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to a pet. Furthermore, when the viscosity of the wet food is within the above preferred range, the handle, which has moderate flexibility, naturally wobbles the container, causing the contained wet food to wobble and release a scent, which easily attracts pets.

[0049] The pet food product according to this embodiment is particularly preferably for cats, small dogs, or extra-small dogs.

[0050] <Ingredients> The ingredients constituting the wet food are not particularly limited, and ingredients used in conventional pet foods can be applied. For example, in addition to protein ingredients, carbohydrate ingredients, vitamins, minerals, salts, fats, oils, extracts of animal ingredients, etc. may be added.

[0051] When preparing wet food, a thickener may be added as an ingredient, such as polysaccharides such as guar gum, starch, carrageenan, xanthan gum, and locust bean gum.

[0052] When fish such as tuna, sardines, and bonito, or livestock such as cattle, pigs, and chickens are used as protein components contained in the raw materials of wet food, these raw materials may be heated or cooked in advance by known methods.

[0053] Wet food can be produced, for example, by mixing a protein component and water and adding a thickener as needed. The mixing method is not particularly limited, and known methods using a mixer or mincer can be applied, with a method that allows for uniform mixing being preferred. The protein component can be mixed (processed) into a minced form before mixing with other ingredients, allowing for a more uniform mixing of the ingredients. After mixing, the pet food may be in a paste form. Furthermore, chunks of (solid) ingredients may be dispersed in the paste-like pet food. Uniform mixing of the ingredients in the pet food or the pet food being in a paste form can prevent pets from eating only a portion of the pet food or only some of the ingredients, thereby improving the rate at which the pet eats the food completely.

[0054] The time and temperature for mixing the raw materials can be set as appropriate. The viscosity of the pet food can be adjusted by adjusting the mixing time. Furthermore, the viscosity and moisture content of the pet food can be adjusted by adjusting the amount of water mixed. The viscosity of the pet food can also be adjusted by the amount of thickener added. Furthermore, the FW can be adjusted by adjusting the weight of the material containing the solid component relative to the weight of all the materials that make up the pet food.

[0055] Wet food usually does not have a form in which the solid ingredients and liquid soup are separated, but rather has only a paste-like component having the aforementioned specific viscosity and moisture content, or a form in which the paste-like component and the solid ingredients are intertwined. It is preferable that wet food does not have a form in which the soup component and the solid ingredients are separated, but rather has at least a paste-like component (component) having the aforementioned viscosity and moisture content. In addition to the paste-like component, the wet food may also contain solid ingredients. In this case, the solid ingredients are intertwined with the paste-like component, so that the solid ingredients are delivered to the pet's mouth together with the paste-like component. This can improve the rate at which the wet food is eaten completely.

[0056] When the wet food contains a chunk portion, the chunk portion and the base meat portion can be produced using the ingredients shown below.

[0057] (Base meat portion ingredients) The ingredients contained in the base meat portion of the wet food are not particularly limited, but the base meat portion can use a protein ingredient as the main ingredient. Examples of protein ingredients for the base meat portion include plant-derived proteins, animal-derived proteins, and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of plant-derived proteins include gluten, wheat protein, soy protein, rice protein, and corn protein. Examples of animal-derived proteins include muscle and organ proteins of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, milk protein, and mixtures thereof. Other ingredients that can be added to the base meat portion include oils and fats, chicken extract, fish extract, seasonings, thickeners, water, and the like.

[0058] (Chunk portion raw materials) Protein raw materials can be used for the chunk portion of the pet food. As the protein raw material for the chunk portion, the same protein raw materials as those used for the base meat portion can be used.

[0059] Furthermore, grains may be added to the chunk portion of the pet food. Preferred examples of grains include corn, wheat, barley, oats, rice, and soybeans. These grains can contain proteins, ash, minerals, vitamins, and the like in addition to carbohydrates, and can therefore be used as nutritional sources. Furthermore, the addition of grains makes it easier to adjust (mainly reduce) the amino acid content of the entire pet food. Other ingredients that can be added to the chunk portion include seasonings, binders, and water.

[0060] <Package> The package according to this embodiment contains a plurality of pet food products according to the above aspect and an oxygen absorber. According to this embodiment, since the oxygen absorber is contained together with the pet food products in the package, it is easy to prevent deterioration of the wet food over time.

[0061] The package according to this embodiment preferably includes a display unit that suggests shaking the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet. Specific examples of the display unit include a configuration in which a statement to shake the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet is printed on the package, or a configuration in which a sticker printed with a statement to shake the pet food product before feeding the wet food to the pet is affixed to the package. By including the display unit on the package, it becomes easier for pet owners to recognize that the contents of the wet food should be mixed before feeding it to their pet.

[0062] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0063] [Production of Wet Food] 30% tuna, 2.8% thickener, 67.2% water and extract were mixed, pulverized in a mixer and mixed uniformly to produce wet food.

[0064] [Evaluation of Handle Flexibility] The pet food products shown in Figure 1 were manufactured using the handle lengths and thicknesses shown in Table 1. In each example, the shape of the container was the same except for the length and thickness of the handle. In addition, wet food of the same composition was used in each example. Using the pet food products of each example obtained, a digital force gauge was pressed against a pet food product having each handle thickness from point P where the handle and the container join to a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle, and the flex distance was measured until a force of 2N was indicated. The results are shown in Table 1. (Criteria for evaluating mixing) ◎: Wet food mixed well. ○: Wet food mixed well. ×: Wet food did not mix well.

[0065]

[0066] The results shown in Table 1 confirm that when the handle length is 35 mm, the wet food is mixed when the thickness of the holding part is 2.0 mm, and when it is 1.5 mm or less, the wet food is mixed well. Also, when the handle length is 15 mm, the wet food is mixed when the thickness of the holding part is 1.5 mm or less.

[0067] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Pet food product 2 Container 21 Bottom 22 Peripheral wall 23 Storage section 24 Handle 3 Wet food Q Handle Q1 Recess

Claims

1. A pet food product comprising: a container with a storage section and a handle extending from the storage section; and wet food stored in the storage section, wherein, when a load of 2N is applied to the handle at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction from point P where the handle and the storage section join, the handle bends by 2 mm or more in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle in a cross-sectional view.

2. The pet food product of claim 1, wherein the length of the stem is 15 mm or more.

3. The pet food product according to claim 1, wherein when a load of 2N is applied to the handle at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P where the handle and the container join, the handle bends by 20% or more of the distance D from point P to the bottom of the container.

4. The pet food product according to claim 1, wherein the handle has a handle Q that serves as a guide for holding the pet food product when shaking it.

5. The pet food product according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion Q is located at a position 10 mm to 35 mm from the point P in the longitudinal direction of the stem portion.

6. The pet food product according to claim 4, wherein the handle portion Q has a recess.

7. The pet food product according to claim 1, further comprising a gas barrier lid removably joined to the edge of the opening of the container.

8. The pet food product of claim 7, wherein the gas barrier lid extends longitudinally beyond the end of the handle.

9. The pet food product of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the stem is between 0.8 mm and 2 mm.

10. The pet food product of claim 1, wherein the container comprises a label suggesting that the pet food product be shaken before feeding the wet food to a pet.

11. A package containing a plurality of pet food products according to any one of claims 1 to 10 and an oxygen absorber.

12. The package of claim 11, comprising an indicator suggesting that the pet food product be shaken before feeding the wet food to a pet.

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