Wet pet food system

Abstract

The invention relates to a wet pet food system and a method of packaging wet pet food. The wet pet food system includes a sealed pouch formed of a single material polypropylene and wet pet food contained within the sealed pouch. The wet pet food may comprise a member selected from the group consisting of mousse, lumps in cakes, and lumps in juices. The wet pet food comprises an antioxidant, which comprises soy sauce.

Description

Cross-references to related applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 592,640, filed on October 24, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Technology

[0002] The preparation and packaging of wet pet food with a reasonably long shelf life can be challenging, especially when the packaging may be permeable to water and / or oxygen during storage. For example, wet pet food can oxidize, particularly on surfaces that come into direct contact with the packaging material. A solution is to use multi-layered bags or pouches that provide barriers against oxygen and / or moisture vapor, such as aluminum foil pouches, sometimes referred to as aluminum bags. However, aluminum bags and other pouches made of multiple materials can be difficult to recycle due to the combination of various layers into a single layer. On the other hand, choosing a single recyclable material for the bag or container presents challenges related to its permeability to various gases, such as oxygen and / or water vapor. Detailed Implementation

[0003] According to this disclosure, a pet food system may include a resealable bag made of a single layer of polypropylene and wet pet food contained within the resealable bag. The wet pet food may be in the form of a member selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks, and sauce chunks. Furthermore, the wet pet food may contain an antioxidant, including soy sauce. In some examples, the resealable bag may be recyclable. In other examples, the resealable bag does not include an additional fluid barrier to help reduce the permeation of oxygen or water into the resealable bag. Therefore, the presence of soy sauce provides long-term storage protection even when the resealable bag is more permeable to oxygen and water than an aluminum barrier bag, while the wet pet food is contained within the resealable bag. For example, the wet pet food may be shelf-stable within the resealable bag for at least about nine months (or longer). In other examples, soy sauce may be included in the wet pet food at a rate of about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food. Alternatively, soy sauce may be added to the wet pet food at a rate of about 0.25% to about 2% by weight of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food. In other examples, wet pet food may contain water at a weight ratio of approximately 40% to approximately 80% based on the total weight of the wet pet food. In more specific examples, wet pet food may be in the form of a slurry-in-block, and the slurry-in-block may contain blocks (such as protein-containing blocks) and slurry present in a sealed bag at a weight ratio of approximately 1:1 to approximately 1:4 or approximately 2:3 to approximately 1:3. For example, the blocks may contain approximately 30% to approximately 80% protein, such as animal-based protein and / or plant-based protein, such as plant protein extracts. In other examples, antioxidants present in the wet pet food may be composed of or substantially of soy sauce. In other examples, wet pet food may contain Maillard reaction precursors or components and catalysts.

[0004] A method of packaging wet pet food may include preparing wet pet food comprising members selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks, and sauce chunks. The prepared wet pet food may also contain an antioxidant, including soy sauce. Furthermore, the method may include encapsulating the wet pet food in a sealed bag made of a single layer of polypropylene. In some examples, soy sauce may be included in the wet pet food at a sufficient concentration to substantially counteract visible oxidation that would otherwise be caused by oxygen and water permeability of the sealed bag. In other examples, preparing the wet pet food may include adding soy sauce in dehydrated granular form at a weight percentage of about 0.1% to about 3% based on the total weight of the wet pet food. In other examples, no antioxidants other than soy sauce are added to the wet pet food. In still other examples, the wet pet food may be in the form of sauce chunks and may be prepared by mixing the chunks with the sauce at a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4. In this example, the sauce may contain water, a thickener, and an antioxidant (which includes at least soy sauce).

[0005] It should be noted that when discussing examples related to the wet pet food systems and methods of packaging wet pet food described herein, such discussions are to be considered mutually applicable, whether or not they are explicitly discussed in the context of the example. Thus, for example, when discussing "sealed bags" in the context of wet pet food systems, such disclosure is also relevant to and directly supported in the context of methods of packaging wet pet food, and vice versa.

[0006] Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the terms used herein have their common meanings in the relevant technical fields. In some cases, more specifically defined terms are used throughout the specification, and more general terms are included at the end of the specification. These more specifically defined terms have the meanings as described herein.

[0007] wet pet food system

[0008] The wet pet food system disclosed herein comprises a resealable bag or pouch made of a single layer of polypropylene and wet pet food contained within the resealable bag. Recyclability of packaging has become a trend, particularly for resealable bags. However, recycling capability can be a challenge when multiple materials are used in composite forms, such as in the case of various plastics that may be composited with gas or moisture vapor barriers. More specifically, in some packaging systems designed for preserving wet pet food, multi-layer bags already exist, comprising various polymers composited with a thin aluminum barrier in the form of an "aluminum bag" to prevent the permeation of oxygen and / or water vapor that could lead to oxidation of the contents carried by the packaging. This can be a good solution for wet pet preservation, but recycling is difficult because the aluminum bag material will typically need to be separated to allow the polymer material to be recycled. On the other hand, turning to single-layer polymers for packaging (which do not include a separate vapor barrier) offers a better solution for recycling capability, but these materials tend to have oxygen permeation rate (OTR) and / or moisture vapor permeation rate (MVTR) that may not preserve the wet pet food contained therein. For example, oxygen and / or water vapor permeation through packaging can cause oxidation of the wet pet food contained therein, particularly on the surfaces of the wet pet food within the packaging that are in direct contact with the inner surface of the packaging material. Therefore, it has been recognized that combining certain types of polymer packaging, which are susceptible to some vapor permeation, with certain antioxidants incorporated into the wet pet food contents can improve long-term challenges associated with wet pet food storage while maintaining the ability to provide fully recyclable packaging.

[0009] Accordingly, the resealable bags described herein can be made of a single material, polypropylene. Even though polypropylene may exhibit some degree of oxygen and water vapor permeability, when combined with the wet pet food formulations described herein, the polypropylene packaging provides sufficient resistance to oxygen and water vapor permeability to allow the wet pet food contained therein to be packaged and stored for extended periods, such as at least nine months, and typically much longer. The term "single material" refers to packaging containing only polypropylene, even if the packaging contains multiple layers of polypropylene, as long as the multiple layers can be recycled together without delamination. That is, in some examples, the polypropylene may be in the form of a single layer of polypropylene. It should be noted that the term "single material" excludes any labels that may be attached to the polypropylene packaging for purposes such as customer identification, nutritional information, branding, etc. Typically, polypropylene resealable bags can be formed to be flexible and can be single-use bags, or may include reusable bags and be resealable after opening, such as with zipper locks or other technologies.

[0010] The thickness of polypropylene bags can be any thickness suitable for effectively containing wet pet food, but for practical purposes, thicknesses are typically from about 90 μm to about 120 μm, from about 100 μm to about 110 μm, and more typically from about 102 μm to about 106 μm. Thicker polypropylene bags allow less oxygen and / or water vapor to permeate, but relatively thinner packaging can still be effective when appropriate antioxidants are included as part of the wet pet food formulation or preparation. In some examples, not limited by these ratios, polypropylene bags can be about 150 cm². 2 Approximately 250cm 2 Approximately 180cm 2 Approximately 230cm 2 or about 200cm 2 Approximately 220cm 2 The internal surface area. For example, the internal volume could be approximately 60 cm². 3 Approximately 110cm 3 Approximately 70cm 3 Approximately 100cm 3 or about 80cm 3 Approximately 90cm 3 With these internal surface areas and internal volumes, the amount of wet pet food in contact with the inner surface of the polypropylene bag can be kept within reasonable levels. It is worth noting that other internal surface areas and / or internal volumes can also be used. In any case, antioxidants in wet pet food are typically mixed throughout the wet pet food, allowing ratios outside this range to be used as well.

[0011] Referring now to wet pet food contained in sealed bags made of a single material, polypropylene, it has been recognized that the inclusion of soy sauce as an antioxidant in wet pet food formulations or preparations performs particularly well for long-term storage purposes. Surprisingly, many known antioxidants, considered to perform well in the polypropylene bags described herein, perform far less well than soy sauce as an antioxidant. For example, other antioxidant solutions (such as solutions containing vitamin C, vitamin E, digestive enzymes, carrots, tomatoes, cranberries, Maillard reaction precursors (e.g., glycine, xylose, and glucose) and / or meat hydrolysates) perform far less well than the antioxidant effect of soy sauce when stored for extended periods in monolayer polypropylene. In the absence of soy sauce, even with the presence of other antioxidants, wet pet food exhibits color changes (particularly on the inner surface of adjacent bags) after extended storage, and in many cases, palatability to the tested animals decreases.

[0012] Numerous forms of wet pet food exist that can be incorporated into the wet pet food system of this disclosure. The term "pet food" refers to any composition formulated for consumption by pets, while the term "wet pet food" refers to pet food containing more than about 20% by weight of water or a water activity greater than 0.75, and usually both. Examples of usable wet pet foods include mousses, cake chunks, and thick sauce chunks. With respect to the wet pet food described herein, the term "pet" refers to domesticated or other animals kept as companion animals by humans, such as birds; equines; felines; canines; rodents, e.g., hamsters, guinea pigs, mice, gerbils, etc.; rabbits, e.g., rabbits; ferrets; cattle; goats; sheep; donkeys; pigs, etc.

[0013] The term "cake block" can also be referred to as "HsCC," "heat-set block compound," or "jelly," and these terms are used interchangeably. Typically, cake block products are in the form of cake products with added blocks. The term "gravy block" refers to blocks combined with a gravy.

[0014] The lumps in the concentrated sauce may include "roasted lumps," "steamed lumps," etc., and typically have a roasted meat appearance and are prepared by one or more of the methods disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 10,993,445 and 10,470,470, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, with examples including the commercial product FANCY FEAST. ® ("FF").

[0015] The term "roasted block in gravy" refers to roasted block in combination with gravy, and the term "steamed block in gravy" refers to steamed block in combination with gravy.

[0016] The term "block" refers to multiple individual food bodies, typically meat flakes or reconstituted meat flakes, which may have a spherical shape and generally mimic real meat blocks. Blocks may contain one or more of meat, meat by-products, grains, or plant proteins. Non-limiting examples of blocks include pellets, balls, pet food flakes, dehydrated meat, artificial meat, vegetables, or combinations thereof. Other examples include pet treats such as jerky or dried vegetables, raw hides, or biscuits. The size of the blocks may vary depending on the animal that will consume the product (e.g., animal type, age, health condition, or size). For example, blocks for cats may range in size from 3 mm to 30 mm, or from about 8 mm to 20 mm, determined by measurement along the longest side of the block. In some cases, blocks may contain wheat gluten, and may also contain one or more of meat, fish, or animal meal. In some examples, the block may contain about 30% to about 80% by weight of protein, such as animal-based protein and / or plant-based protein, for example, plant protein extract.

[0017] "Concentrates" can include flowable edible compositions that typically contain water and one or more thickeners, such as starch or gum. In some examples, concentrates are in the form of gels or sols. For example, wet pet food as described herein can be prepared to have a viscosity suitable for filling polypropylene bags. Thus, concentrates can be formulated using an aqueous colloid / starch system having an aqueous colloid / starch content of at least about 1% by weight, and more typically at least about 2% by weight or at least about 3% by weight.

[0018] When referring to "cake" or "mousse," these terms are used interchangeably in this text. A cake can be a generally homogeneous, shaped or molded block of pet food. A cake can have a structure that maintains the shape or basic shape imparted by the packaging during and after removal from the packaging under ambient temperature and pressure. For example, a cake removed from a cylindrical can may have a cylindrical shape with a horizontal cross-section that is substantially the same size as the corresponding horizontal cross-section inside the can. When a cake is removed from a bag, the shape of the bag may be maintained to some extent, provided that the contents are emptied with limited variability.

[0019] The terms “bag” and “pack” are used interchangeably and refer to flexible packaging that can be used to package wet pet food according to this disclosure.

[0020] When preparing wet pet food packaged in polypropylene resealable bags, antioxidants are added, including soy sauce. Other antioxidants may also be added in some examples. However, in one specific example, the only antioxidant added is soy sauce.

[0021] "Soy sauce" (sometimes referred to as soy sauce) can refer to a paste made from fermented soybeans that contains protein hydrolysates. Depending on the specific soy sauce being prepared, the fermented soybeans can be in the form of a paste that can be mixed with other ingredients. Furthermore, as used herein, the term "soy sauce" can also include soy sauce pastes and / or dehydrated soy sauce that can be added during the preparation of wet pet food. When mixed in the remainder of a wet pet food formulation or preparation, dehydrated soy sauce can be hydrated, as the moisture content of wet pet food includes more than about 20% by weight of water as defined herein. It is worth noting that soybeans can be derived from, for example, soybeans or soybean flakes, and can contain other ingredients such as wheat / wheat flour or grains, salt or brine, water (which is more commonly in hydrated form), Aspergillus oryzae / Aspergillus soysauce, salt-tolerant yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, and / or other ingredients sometimes used in soy sauce preparations. In one example, soy sauce may contain soybeans, wheat, salt, and maltodextrin. In one example, the soy sauce could be Kikkoman Dehydrated Soy Sauce KS-20, which is in the form of a high-quality soy sauce powder produced from Kikkoman's naturally brewed soy sauce. Kikkoman soy sauce is dehydrated and concentrated using a spray-drying process. Due to the low temperature and short processing time, the characteristic flavor of this naturally brewed soy sauce is retained even when dehydrated into powder. In some examples, the soy sauce may be selected to avoid one or more of the following: chemically hydrolyzed vegetable protein (HVP), carbohydrates, chemical preservatives, artificial sweeteners, artificial flavorings, or artificial colors.

[0022] By formulating wet pet food to include antioxidants (including soy sauce), the presence of soy sauce provides long-term storage protection while the wet pet food is contained within the sealed bag, even though the sealed bag is more permeable to oxygen and water than an aluminum barrier bag. For example, wet pet food can be shelf-stable in a sealed bag for at least about nine (9) months (or even longer).

[0023] In the examples disclosed herein, soy sauce may be included in the wet pet food at a weight ratio of about 0.1% to about 3% of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food. Alternatively, soy sauce may be added to the wet pet food at a weight ratio of about 0.25% to about 2% of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food. In other examples, even though the wet pet food described herein contains more than about 20% water, in more detailed examples, the wet pet food may contain about 40% to about 80% water based on the total weight of the wet pet food. In examples where the wet pet food contains lumps (e.g., lumps containing protein) and concentrated juice, the two components may be present in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4 or in a weight ratio of about 2:3 to about 1:3 in a sealed bag. In some examples, when lumps are present, the lumps may contain about 30% to about 80% protein and may be in the form of animal-based protein and / or plant-based protein (e.g., plant protein extract). For example, when the blocks are derived from animal-based proteins, they may contain approximately 30% to approximately 80% by weight of meat, fish, and / or meat meal (or all three) as protein content. As an example, these blocks may contain meat products and animal products, such as 10% to 30% by weight of meat (including some chicken, pork, and / or beef), plant protein extracts, fish and fish by-products, minerals, sugars, etc. Specific examples of usable blocks include those found in commercial products called Gourmet Pearl Filettines in Sauce Bags (e.g., bagged), which are available for cats in France.

[0024] In other examples, wet pet food may be prepared using the Maillard reaction and may therefore contain Maillard reaction precursors or ingredients and one or more catalysts. Maillard reaction precursors may be added for any of a variety of reasons, such as for aroma formation, color production, or antioxidant activity. If present, the reaction precursor may be contained in about 0.2% by weight to about 10% by weight, or about 0.5% by weight to about 5% by weight. Other additives may also be contained, such as minerals, vitamins, and / or colorants, for example, caramel syrup, carotenoids, hemoglobin, etc. These additives may be contained independently in about 0.1% by weight to about 2% by weight.

[0025] Methods for packaging wet pet food

[0026] This disclosure also relates to a method of packaging wet pet food. The method may include preparing the wet pet food and sealing it in a sealed bag. The wet pet food may include members selected from the group consisting of mousses, cake chunks, and thick sauce chunks, as previously defined and described. The prepared wet pet food may also contain antioxidants, including soy sauce, also as previously defined and described. For example, soy sauce may be included in the wet pet food at a sufficient concentration to substantially counteract visible oxidation that would otherwise be caused by the oxygen and water permeability of the sealed bag. In this example, the sealed bag may be made of a single material, polypropylene, as previously defined and described. In some examples, the single material polypropylene may be a monolayer polypropylene. Preparing the wet pet food may include adding soy sauce in dehydrated granular form at a concentration of about 0.1% to about 3% by weight based on the total weight of the wet pet food. However, other addition methods may also be used, such as adding soy sauce in liquid and / or paste form. However, it should be noted that the concentration of soy sauce added to the wet pet food by weight is based on the dehydrated weight (or dry weight) of the soy sauce, regardless of how it is added. Soy sauce may be included along with other antioxidants, but in some examples, it may be included as the sole added antioxidant. For example, if the wet pet food is in the form of chunks in a concentrated sauce, the chunks may be mixed with the concentrated sauce in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4, or about 2:3 to about 1:3. In this example, the concentrated sauce may contain water, a thickener, and an antioxidant (which includes at least soy sauce). Further details regarding the wet pet food and polypropylene bags used in this method are as previously described in the context of wet pet food systems, and that description and those related definitions are incorporated herein by reference.

[0027] Exemplary Implementation

[0028] Based on the disclosure herein, the following examples illustrate several embodiments of the present invention.

[0029] 1. An exemplary wet pet food system, comprising:

[0030] A resealable bag, which is made of a single material, polypropylene; and

[0031] The wet pet food is contained in the sealed bag and includes members selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks and thick sauce chunks, wherein the wet pet food contains antioxidants, including soy sauce.

[0032] 2. The wet pet food system according to Example 1, wherein the sealed bag is recyclable.

[0033] 3. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 2, wherein the sealed bag is made of a single layer of polypropylene.

[0034] 4. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 3, wherein the sealed bag is more permeable to oxygen and water than an aluminum barrier bag.

[0035] 5. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein the soy sauce is included in the wet pet food at a weight of about 0.1% to about 3% of the weight of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food.

[0036] 6. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 5, wherein the soy sauce is added to the wet pet food at a weight of about 0.25% to about 2% of the weight of dehydrated soy sauce based on the total weight of the wet pet food.

[0037] 7. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 6, wherein the wet pet food contains water at a weight percentage of about 40% to about 80% based on the total weight of the wet pet food.

[0038] 8. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 7, wherein the wet pet food is shelf-stable within the sealed bag for at least about nine months.

[0039] 9. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 8, wherein the wet pet food is in the form of a block in the concentrated juice, the block in the concentrated juice comprising blocks and concentrated juice present in the sealed bag in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4.

[0040] 10. The wet pet food system according to Example 9, wherein the block and the concentrated juice are present in the sealed bag in a weight ratio of about 2:3 to about 1:3.

[0041] 11. The wet pet food system according to Example 9, wherein the block contains about 30% to about 80% by weight of protein.

[0042] 12. The wet pet food system according to Example 11, wherein the protein comprises animal-based protein.

[0043] 13. The wet pet food system according to Example 11, wherein the protein comprises a plant protein extract.

[0044] 14. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 13, wherein the antioxidant is substantially composed of the soy sauce.

[0045] 15. The wet pet food system according to any one of Examples 1 to 14, wherein the wet pet food comprises a Maillard reaction precursor and a catalyst.

[0046] 16. A method for packaging wet pet food, the method comprising:

[0047] Prepare wet pet food comprising members selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks, and thick sauce chunks, wherein the wet pet food contains antioxidants, including soy sauce; and

[0048] The wet pet food is sealed in a bag made of a single material, polypropylene.

[0049] 17. The method according to Example 16, wherein the soy sauce is contained in the wet pet food at a sufficient concentration to substantially counteract visible oxidation that would otherwise be caused by the oxygen and water permeability of the sealed bag.

[0050] 18. The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 17, wherein preparing the wet pet food comprises adding soy sauce in dehydrated granule form at a weight of about 0.1% to about 3% based on the total weight of the wet pet food.

[0051] 19. The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 18, wherein no antioxidants other than the soy sauce are added to the wet pet food.

[0052] 20. The method according to any one of Examples 16 to 19, wherein the wet pet food is in the form of lumps in the concentrated sauce and is prepared by mixing the lumps with the concentrated sauce in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4, wherein the concentrated sauce contains water, a thickener and the antioxidant.

[0053] definition

[0054] The term “about” means ±10%; on the other hand, ±5%; and in a particular aspect, ±2%. For example, in one aspect (where “about” is a value of ±10%), the phrase “about 5% to about 10%” can include a range of 6% to 8% or 7% to 10%, including any subranges therein. Furthermore, the inclusion of “about” in the range explicitly includes the exact value indicated. For example, the phrase “about 16% by weight or less” explicitly supports the direct teaching of “16% by weight or less” as a subrange.

[0055] As used in this article, “contains” or “includes” in languages ​​or other open-ended languages ​​can be replaced with “consistent with” and “comprises from”, as such transitional phrases are explicitly included in such examples.

[0056] The term "substantially" when referring to the absence of a component indicates that the material is not present at any concentration greater than trace amounts, such as amounts that might naturally be present as impurities or amounts low enough to not provide its normally used function. For example, a composition containing a small amount of silica flow aid but not providing measurable flow enhancement can still be considered "substantially silica-free," and this is especially true if it is present in trace amounts. In some examples, a composition may be "substantially free" of a compound if it is present, for example, less than about 0.05% by weight or even less than about 0.01% by weight.

[0057] Unless otherwise specified, all percentages expressed herein are based on dry matter weight of the composition. For example, the weight percentage of a component in a dried animal digestive composition is based on the total weight of the dried animal digestive composition. The weight percentage of a component in a pet food composition is based on the total weight of the pet food composition.

[0058] As used herein, ranges are abbreviated to avoid having to list and describe every value within the range. Where appropriate, any suitable value within the range may be chosen as the upper limit, lower limit, or endpoint of the range, and should therefore be flexibly interpreted to include not only the values ​​explicitly listed as range boundaries, but also any individual values ​​or subranges encompassed within the range, as if both values ​​and subranges were explicitly listed. For example, the numerical range “about 1% by weight to about 5% by weight” should be interpreted to include not only the explicitly listed values ​​of about 1% by weight to about 5% by weight, but also the individual values ​​and subranges within the indicated range. Thus, included within this numerical range are individual values ​​such as 2, 3.5, and 4; and subranges such as 1 to 3, 2 to 4, and 3 to 5, etc. The same principle applies to listing a range of values. Furthermore, this interpretation should apply regardless of the breadth of the range or characteristic being described.

[0059] As used herein, the singular form of a word includes the plural form, and vice versa, unless the context explicitly specifies otherwise. Therefore, references to “an,” “a,” and “the” generally include the plural form of the corresponding term. For example, references to “dried animal digestive composition,” “pet food composition,” “method,” etc., include various such dried animal digestives, pet food compositions, methods, etc.

[0060] The term “example” (especially when followed by a list of terms) is merely illustrative and explanatory and should not be considered exclusive or exhaustive.

[0061] The methods, compositions, and other proposals disclosed herein are not limited to the specific methods, procedures, and reagents described herein, as those skilled in the art will recognize that these specific methods, procedures, and reagents can be modified. Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not intended to limit, nor will it limit, the scope of the disclosure herein or the protection afforded by the claims.

[0062] Unless otherwise defined, all technical terms, specialized terms, and acronyms used herein have the meanings commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains or in the art of using these terms. While similar or equivalent compositions, methods, articles, or other means or materials to those described herein may be used in the practice of this invention, certain compositions, methods, articles, or other means or materials are described herein.

[0063] As used herein, for convenience, multiple elements, constituent components, and / or materials may exist in a common list. However, these lists should be understood as individual members of the list being individually identified as separate and distinct members. Therefore, without indication to the contrary, this should not be used to treat any individual member of such a list as a factual equivalent of any other member in the same list solely based on the circumstances in the common group.

[0064] Example

[0065] The features of this disclosure can be further illustrated by the following embodiments, but it should be understood that these embodiments are included herein for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, unless otherwise specifically stated.

[0066] Example 1 - Packaging Shelf Life Study

[0067] A 9-month short shelf-life study was conducted, comparing block formulations (baked) in a standard concentrated juice carried by two types of resealable bags: recyclable bags made of single-layer polypropylene and standard multi-layer aluminum bags (which include a thin aluminum layer as an oxygen / water vapor barrier). The polypropylene bags had a thickness of approximately 104 μm and a volume of 1.38 cc / m³. 2 The oxygen permeability value is approximately 1.22 g / m³. 2 The water vapor permeation rate. The aluminum bag has a thickness of approximately 79 μm and a water vapor permeation rate of 0.20 cc / m. 2 The oxygen permeability value is approximately 0.01 g / m³. 2 Water vapor permeation rate.

[0068] Wet pet food products stored at room temperature in two types of packaging exhibited different performance. Specifically, polypropylene bags provided less protection against oxidation in wet pet food compared to the protection offered by aluminum bags. For example, an increase in oxidized lumps was observed in polypropylene bags compared to those in aluminum bags. Furthermore, as determined in a short palatability test conducted on 40 cats over a 2-hour period, the palatability of wet pet food with lumps in concentrated juice was reduced when stored in polypropylene bags compared to wet pet food stored in standard aluminum bags. Therefore, it was determined that while polypropylene bags are a more desirable packaging for recycling purposes, they are inferior in improving oxidation and maintaining good palatability.

[0069] Therefore, two studies were initiated to maintain the palatability of wet pet food and reduce the oxidation of clumps when stored in polypropylene bags during extended shelf life by adding palatability enhancers and / or antioxidants.

[0070] Example 2 - Screening of Appearance and Palatability of Wet Pet Food

[0071] Wet pet food palatability testing was conducted to screen for various additive ingredients that could be used to enhance palatability. The wet pet food formula contains a concentrated gravy in a weight ratio of approximately 69 / 31 with chunks of roasted chicken. More specifically, the chunk formulation in the concentrated gravy is based on a product available in France under the brand name Purina. ® The commercially available product “Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken,” referred to as “Standard” in Table 1, indicates that the recipe remains unchanged. The concentrated sauce variants 1 to 4 (VARs 1 to 4) shown in Table 1 below provide the tested added palatability ingredients as follows:

[0072] Table 1 - Appearance of wet foods Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken †Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken improved with additives

[0073] As can be seen from Table 1, VAR 4 is most similar in appearance to the standard concentrated juice.

[0074] Example 3 - Short-term storage screening in polypropylene bags

[0075] Each of the wet pet food formulations described in Example 2 was divided into multiple portions and packaged in multiple polypropylene bags. The various bags were stored at 20°C, 30°C, or 40°C for one (1) month, and the oxidation level was assessed by a panel of 12 trained members. Each of the 12 panel members opened two (2) bags of each of the five (5) formulations at each of the three (3) storage temperatures. The criteria used to assess each sample were based on the perceived amount of oxidized lumps (from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no lumps are oxidized and 10 indicates all lumps are oxidized), oxidation intensity (from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no oxidation and 10 indicates a strong color change), and color intensity (from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates very light lumps and 10 indicates dark lumps). Note that perceived oxidation was based on visible criteria, not on the chemical oxidation shown. Low, medium, high, and very high grades were assigned based on the average of the 12 panel members. The results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0076] Table 2 - Sensing Oxidation of Bulk Materials Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken †Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken improved using the additives listed in Table 1

[0077] As shown in Table 2, VAR 1 (tomato powder) and VAR 4 (soy sauce powder) exhibited the lowest perceived oxidation scores. However, when considering Table 1, the consistency and color of the wet pet food (especially the concentrated sauce) were closest to the standard concentrated sauce, without added tomato flavor. Furthermore, based on the results from this sensory analysis, palatability, and formulation complexity, the addition of soy sauce proved to be the best approach for further investigation into the long-term effects on oxidation and palatability compared to formulations containing a proven antioxidant system.

[0078] Example 4 - Sensory Perception Comparison of Wet Pet Food Systems under Various Storage Conditions

[0079] Time interval

[0080] For comparative purposes, two wet pet food systems were prepared. Specifically, a first wet pet food system (standard system) was prepared based on a wet pet food formulation of roasted blocky food contained in a concentrated gravy in an aluminum bag (including a thin aluminum layer as an oxygen / water vapor barrier). The first wet pet food system is similar to the commercially available product "Gourmet MonPetit Chicken" in France. A second wet pet food system (soybean-PP system) was prepared using the same wet pet food formulation, except that approximately 1% by weight of Kikkoman dehydrated soy sauce KS-20 was added to the concentrated gravy of the wet pet food, and the sealing bag used was a single-layer polypropylene bag. As described in Example 1, the oxygen permeability and water vapor permeability values ​​of the polypropylene bag were significantly greater than those of the aluminum bag.

[0081] Shelf-life studies were conducted using the two prepared systems to compare various sensory characteristics of the standard system and the soybean-PP system prepared according to this disclosure. Multiple bags of each system were stored at room temperature, with portions of each bag opened at 2, 3, 6, and 9 months for examination by a 12-member trained panel. More specifically, each of the 12 panel members opened two (2) bags of each system and characterized aroma (levels of cooking, grain, and off-flavors), sauce color intensity, sauce uniformity and thickness, proportion of oxidized meat chunks, and intensity of oxidation (color difference between oxidized and unoxidized chunks). The results of the sensory comparisons were based on a scale of 0 to 10, and the sensory scores are shown in Table 3 below:

[0082] Table 3 - Sensory perception and storage duration of bulk materials Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken †Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken modified with 1% by weight of soy sauce powder

[0083] Round to the nearest 0.1.

[0084] As can be seen in Table 3, based on sensory perception levels of 0 to 10, there was no significant difference between the standard wet pet food system and the soy-PP wet pet food system, where all scores were separated by less than one (1) point at all time intervals, and in many cases, the separation was negligible. Furthermore, as with the screening evaluation conducted in Example 2, the blocks with the soy sauce formulation (VAR 4) appeared slightly darker than the blocks in the standard concentrated sauce.

[0085] Example 5 - Standard wet pet food formulation in an aluminum bag and

[0086] Palatability comparison of wet pet food containing soy sauce in polypropylene single-layer bags

[0087] The palatability of two wet pet food systems, identical to those described in Example 4, was evaluated: the standard wet pet food system and the VAR 4 (soy-PP) wet pet food system. Forty cats were used in a two-bowl experiment to assess palatability. One bowl contained wet pet food from the standard wet pet food system, and the other bowl contained wet pet food from the soy-PP wet pet food system. Each bowl contained one complete serving of wet pet food, and the cats were given the option to eat from either bowl. The percentage of consumption from each bowl was measured to examine whether there was a preference for one wet pet food formulation over the other after various storage periods at room temperature. The storage periods for this study were 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months. Table 4 provides the data collected at all time intervals, as follows:

[0088] Table 4 - Preferences and Storage Duration of Polypropylene Bag Wet Pet Food Systems

[0089] As shown in Table 4, there was no significant difference in pet preference between wet pet food from the standard wet pet food system and wet pet food from the soybean-PP pet food system; the results were also evenly distributed over a storage period of 9 months.

[0090] Example 6 - Comparison of shelf life of four wet pet food systems

[0091] A nine (9) month shelf-life study at room temperature was conducted, comparing three (3) different wet pet food systems to confirm that the combination of added soy sauce to a wet pet food formulation contained in a single-layer polypropylene bag would be superior to other formulations contained in the same type of bag. The first wet pet food system included a wet pet food formulation similar to that available in Purina, France. ®The commercially available product "Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken" was purchased, but in this case packaged in a polypropylene bag. A second wet pet food system includes a sealed polypropylene bag containing the Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken wet pet food formula, wherein an antioxidant packet containing approximately 0.07% by weight of organic antioxidants, such as organic acids and vitamins (including vitamins C and E), approximately 1% by weight of meat protein hydrolysates, and approximately 1.4% by weight of Maillard reaction precursors, such as amino acids and monosaccharides, are added to the concentrated gravy. A third wet pet food system includes a sealed polypropylene bag containing the Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken wet pet food formula, wherein 1% by weight of Kikkoman dehydrated soy sauce KS-20 is added to the concentrated gravy. As a comparison, commercially available Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken, comprising a standard aluminum bag, was also tested. The polypropylene bag and aluminum bag are as described in Example 1. After a nine (9) month storage period, the packaging was opened and the oxidation level of the roasted chunks in the gravy was determined by counting the number of oxidized chunks relative to the total number of chunks contained in the opened bags (by percentage of oxidation count). The percentages are based on the average of the entire cat population being assessed, and the results are provided in Table 5 below:

[0092] Table 5 - Comparison of shelf life of oxidized lumps in various wet pet food systems Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken modified with a 2.47% by weight antioxidant packet †Gourmet Mon Petit Chicken modified with 1% by weight soy sauce powder

[0093] As shown in Table 5, when the wet pet food formulation was modified to include soy sauce, the percentage of oxidized lumps in the polypropylene bag was approximately the same as that in the standard wet pet food formulation contained in an aluminum bag, which is less permeable to oxygen and water vapor than the polypropylene bag. Oxidation was significantly higher when no antioxidants were added to the standard wet pet food formulation contained in the polypropylene bag. Surprisingly, the 2.47% by weight antioxidant packet (e.g., vitamin E, vitamin C, organic acids, meat hydrolysates, etc.), which was expected to perform best due to its known antioxidant properties, had a negative impact on the oxidation of lumps packaged in the polypropylene bag. Therefore, the soy sauce additive provides unexpected antioxidant properties to wet pet food contained in polypropylene bags. Furthermore, as illustrated in Example 5 above, the soy sauce additive is also highly palatable to animals fed similar wet pet food formulations.

[0094] This specification has disclosed certain embodiments of the invention. While specific terminology has been used, it is used in a general and descriptive sense only and not for limiting purposes. The scope of the invention is set forth in the claims. Many modifications and variations of the invention are possible based on the foregoing teachings. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention may be practiced in forms other than those specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A wet pet food system, comprising: A resealable bag, said resealable bag being made of a single material, polypropylene; and The wet pet food is contained within the sealed bag and comprises members selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks, and thick sauce chunks, wherein the wet pet food contains antioxidants, including soy sauce.

2. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the sealed bag is recyclable.

3. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the sealed bag is made of a single layer of polypropylene.

4. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the sealed bag is more permeable to oxygen and water than the aluminum barrier bag.

5. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the soy sauce is contained in the wet pet food at a weight of about 0.1% to about 3% of the total weight of the wet pet food.

6. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the soy sauce is added to the wet pet food at a weight of about 0.25% to about 2% of the total weight of the wet pet food.

7. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the wet pet food comprises water at a weight of about 40% to about 80% based on the total weight of the wet pet food.

8. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the wet pet food is shelf-stable within the sealed bag for at least approximately nine months.

9. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the wet pet food is in the form of lumps in the concentrated juice, the lumps in the concentrated juice comprising lumps and concentrated juice present in the sealed bag in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:

4.

10. The wet pet food system of claim 9, wherein the lumps and the concentrated juice are present in the sealed bag in a weight ratio of about 2:3 to about 1:

3.

11. The wet pet food system of claim 9, wherein the block contains about 30% to about 80% by weight of protein.

12. The wet pet food system of claim 11, wherein the protein comprises animal-based protein.

13. The wet pet food system of claim 11, wherein the protein comprises a plant protein extract.

14. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the antioxidant is substantially composed of the soy sauce.

15. The wet pet food system of claim 1, wherein the wet pet food comprises a Maillard reaction precursor and a catalyst.

16. A method for packaging wet pet food, the method comprising: Prepare wet pet food, the wet pet food comprising members selected from the group consisting of mousse, cake chunks, and sauce chunks, wherein the wet pet food contains antioxidants, the antioxidants including soy sauce; and The wet pet food is sealed in a bag made of a single material, polypropylene.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the soy sauce is contained in the wet pet food at a sufficient concentration to substantially counteract visible oxidation that would otherwise be caused by the oxygen and water permeability of the sealed bag.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein preparing the wet pet food comprises adding the soy sauce in dehydrated granular form at about 0.1% to about 3% by weight of the total weight of the wet pet food.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein no antioxidants other than the soy sauce are added to the wet pet food.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the wet pet food is in the form of lumps in the concentrated sauce and is prepared by mixing the lumps with the concentrated sauce in a weight ratio of about 1:1 to about 1:4, wherein the concentrated sauce contains water, a thickener, and the antioxidant.

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