Compositions and methods for increasing the palatability of dry pet food

Abstract

The present invention provides compositions and methods for increasing the palatability of dry pet food. The dry pet food composition may contain about 0.01% by weight to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate, wherein the pentaphosphate is incorporated into at least one of: a matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit and priority of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 603,705, filed November 29, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Background Technology

[0003] This disclosure relates generally to pet food. More specifically, this disclosure relates to compositions and methods for increasing the palatability of dry pet food.

[0004] Pet food is mainly categorized into three types: dry, semi-moist, and moist, with dry pet food being considered the least palatable. Existing solutions rely on optimizing the quality of raw materials (such as fats), increasing the product's moisture content, or increasing the amount of flavoring agents applied. The main drawbacks of these solutions are material availability and / or cost. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This disclosure provides compositions and methods for increasing the palatability of dry pet food using pentaphosphate. The inventors have unexpectedly discovered that specific phosphoric acid compounds, namely pentaphosphate, can significantly improve the palatability of dry pet food compositions.

[0006] Therefore, in one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may contain about 0.01% by weight to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate. Pentaphosphate may be incorporated into at least one of the following: the matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

[0007] In another embodiment, a method for increasing the palatability of dry pet food may include incorporating about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate into at least one of the following: a matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

[0008] One advantage of this disclosure is that it improves the palatability of dry pet food.

[0009] Another advantage of this disclosure is the use of commercially available and readily available compounds as flavor enhancers for pet food.

[0010] Another advantage of this disclosure is that it improves the palatability of dry pet food without relying on optimizing the quality of raw materials (such as fat), increasing the moisture content of the product, or increasing the amount of flavoring agents applied.

[0011] Further features and advantages are described in the following detailed description and will be apparent. Detailed Implementation

[0012] All percentages expressed herein are by weight of the total weight of the composition and may be expressed as “wt%” unless otherwise stated. When pH is mentioned, the value corresponds to the pH measured using standard equipment at 25°C.

[0013] The term "pet" means any animal that can benefit from or enjoy the compositions provided in this disclosure. A pet can be a bird, cattle, canine, horse, feline, goat, wolf, rodent, sheep, or pig. A pet can be any suitable animal, and this disclosure is not limited to any particular pet animal. The term "companion animal" means a dog or cat. The terms "dog" and "canine" are used interchangeably herein. The terms "cat" and "feline" are used interchangeably herein. In one embodiment, the pet may be a feline.

[0014] The term "pet food" refers to any composition intended for consumption by pets.

[0015] The terms "dry food" or "dry pet food" refer to pet food having less than 10% by weight of moisture and / or less than 0.64 water activity, and in one aspect, both. "Coarsely ground food" is the pellet form of dry pet food, and in one aspect, it can be extruded pellets. "Matrix" is a pellet of dry pet food and does not include a coating, if any. "Matrix composition" is a composition processed to form a matrix. "Semi-moist" food compositions have 11% to 20% by weight of moisture and / or 0.64 to 0.75 water activity, and in one aspect, both.

[0016] When referring to food compositions, the term "complete and balanced" means a food composition that, based on recommendations from recognized authorities in the field of animal nutrition, contains adequate amounts and proportions of all known essential nutrients, and is therefore suitable as a sole dietary source to sustain life or promote production without the need for supplemental nutrient sources. Nutritionally balanced pet and animal food compositions are widely known and used in the field, for example, complete and balanced food compositions formulated according to standards established by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on January 1, 2023.

[0017] The terms “pentaphosphoric acid” and “pentapolyphosphoric acid” are used interchangeably and refer to the compound identified as PubChem CID 57418835 (also identified as CAS 20410-55-3), including its salts.

[0018] As used herein and in the appended claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form of a word includes the plural form, and vice versa. Therefore, references to “an,” “a,” and “the” generally include the plural form of the corresponding term. For example, references to “a compound” or “a method” include references to multiple such compounds or methods.

[0019] Similarly, the terms "including / comprise / contains" are used to interpret inclusively rather than exclusively. Likewise, the terms "including / comprise" and "or" should be considered inclusive unless the context explicitly prohibits this interpretation. However, embodiments provided in this disclosure may not contain any elements not expressly disclosed herein. Therefore, a disclosure of one embodiment defined using the term "including / comprises" is also a disclosure of multiple embodiments that are "substantially composed of the disclosed components" and "composed of the disclosed components." The term "example" used herein (especially when followed by a list of terms) is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered exclusive or comprehensive. Any embodiment disclosed herein may be combined with any other embodiment disclosed herein.

[0020] As used herein, “about” should be understood to mean a number within a certain numerical range, such as within -10% to +10% of the mentioned number, within -5% to +5% of the mentioned number, or within -2% to +2% of the mentioned number in one aspect and within -1% to +1% of the mentioned number in a particular aspect. Furthermore, all numerical ranges herein should be understood to include all integers or fractions within that range. Additionally, these numerical ranges should be understood to support claims that involve any number or subset of numbers within that range. For example, disclosures of 1 to 10 should be understood to support ranges of 1 to 8, 3 to 7, 1 to 9, 3.6 to 4.6, 3.5 to 9.9, etc.

[0021] All patents, patent applications, publications, and other references cited or mentioned herein are incorporated herein by reference to the extent permitted by law. The discussion of these references is intended only to summarize the conclusions made therein. No such patent, patent application, publication, or reference, or any part thereof, is acknowledged as prior art relating to this invention, and the right to challenge the accuracy and relevance of such patents, patent applications, publications, and other references is specifically reserved.

[0022] The inventors have surprisingly discovered that pentaphosphate increases the palatability of dry pet food compositions. Therefore, this disclosure provides compositions and methods for increasing the palatability of dry pet foods (e.g., dry coarsely ground pet food). The compositions comprise at least one of pentaphosphate or a salt thereof.

[0023] Therefore, in one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may contain about 0.01% by weight to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate. Pentaphosphate may be incorporated into at least one of the following: the matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

[0024] In another embodiment, a method for increasing the palatability of dry pet food may include incorporating about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate into at least one of the following: a matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

[0025] In one embodiment, the dry pet food may include at least one vitamin and / or at least one mineral. Non-limiting examples of suitable vitamins include vitamin A, any B vitamins (e.g., B-1, B-2, B-3, B-5, B-6, B-7, B-9, and B-12), vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K, including various salts, esters, or other derivatives of the foregoing. Non-limiting examples of suitable minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, iron, chlorine, boron, copper, zinc, magnesium, manganese, iodine, selenium, etc. In one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may be a complete and nutritionally balanced pet food.

[0026] In one embodiment, the dry pet food contains approximately 5% to approximately 70% crude protein. Crude protein may include plant proteins such as whole wheat, whole corn, soy flour, soy protein concentrate, corn gluten flour, wheat gluten flour, cottonseed, and peanut meal; or animal proteins such as casein, albumin, and meat protein. Non-limiting examples of suitable meat proteins include beef, pork, lamb, rabbit, poultry, fish, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable meat meal include portions extracted and ground from beef, pork, lamb, rabbit, poultry, fish, insects, and mixtures thereof. Non-limiting examples of suitable meat include any meat and meat by-products such as whole carcass beef and lamb; lean ground pork; beef shank; veal; beef cheek and pork cheek; and meat by-products such as lips, stomach, heart, tongue, mechanically deboned beef, chicken or fish, beef liver and pork liver, lungs, kidneys, etc. The meat can be emulsified or formed into pellets. In one embodiment, the meat is chicken. In one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may contain about 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 45% by weight, 50% by weight or even 55% by weight, to about 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 45% by weight, 50% by weight, 55% by weight, 60% by weight, 65% by weight or even 70% by weight, including various subranges within these amounts.

[0027] In one embodiment, the dry pet food contains about 5% to about 50% fat. Non-limiting examples of suitable fats include animal fats and vegetable fats. Preferred fat sources are animal fat sources, such as beef fat, pork fat, and poultry fat. Vegetable oils, such as corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, rapeseed oil, soybean oil, olive oil, and other oils rich in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and medium-chain triglycerides may be used. In one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may contain about 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, or even 45% by weight, to about 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 45% by weight, or even 50% by weight, including various subranges within these amounts.

[0028] In one embodiment, the dry pet food contains about 5% to about 60% carbohydrates. Non-limiting examples of suitable carbohydrates include grains or cereals such as rice, corn, millet, sorghum, alfalfa, barley, soybeans, canola, oats, wheat, rye, triticale, and mixtures thereof. The composition may contain other materials such as dried whey and other dairy byproducts. In one embodiment, the dry pet food composition may contain about 5% by weight, 10% by weight, 15% by weight, 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 45% by weight, 50% by weight, or even 55% by weight, to about 20% by weight, 25% by weight, 30% by weight, 35% by weight, 40% by weight, 45% by weight, 50% by weight, 55% by weight, or even 60% by weight, including various subranges within these amounts.

[0029] In one embodiment, the dry pet food comprises one or more fiber sources. The term "fiber" includes all sources of "bulk matter" in food, whether easily digestible or indigestible, soluble or insoluble, fermentable or non-fermentable. Preferred fiber is derived from plant sources, such as marine plants, but microbial fiber may also be used. Soluble and / or insoluble fiber may be used. Non-limiting examples of suitable fiber sources include beet pulp (derived from sugar beets), gum arabic, psyllium husk, rice bran, carob gum, citrus pomace, pectin, fructooligosaccharides, short-chain fructooligosaccharides, manno-fructooligosaccharides, soybean fiber, arabinogalactan, galactooligosaccharides, arabinoglycoxylan, and mixtures thereof.

[0030] The fiber source can be fermentable fiber. Fermentable fiber has previously been described as beneficial to the immune system of companion animals. Technicians should know that fermentable fiber or other compositions that provide prebiotics to promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut can be incorporated into dry pet food.

[0031] In some embodiments, the ash content in the dry pet food ranges from less than 1% to about 15%, preferably from about 5% to about 10%.

[0032] In various embodiments, the dry pet food composition may contain additional ingredients known to those skilled in the art, such as amino acids, nucleic acids, fillers, palatability enhancers, binders, flavoring agents, stabilizers, emulsifiers, sweeteners, coloring agents, buffers, salts, coatings, flavorings, and preservatives, etc. Non-limiting examples of antioxidants include butylated hydroxyanisole (“BHA”) and butylated hydroxytoluene (“BHT”), vitamin E (tocopherol), etc. Non-limiting examples of suitable preservatives include potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, sodium methylparaben, calcium propionate, propionic acid, and combinations thereof. The composition may also contain carotenoids, such as alpha-carotene, lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and β-cryptoxanthin. Additional ingredients may also be included, such as digestive aids, health supplements, etc.

[0033] Examples of suitable flavoring agents include yeast, butter, refined bone meal (e.g., poultry meal, beef meal, lamb meal, pork meal), and flavor extracts or blends (e.g., roast beef), etc. Suitable coloring agents that can be used in imitation meat chunks and / or gravy include FD&C pigments such as Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6, etc.; natural pigments such as caramel coloring, annatto, chlorophyll, carmine, betaine, turmeric, saffron, capsicum, lycopene, elderberry juice, pandan extract, and butterfly pea flower pigment, etc.; titanium dioxide; iron oxides; and any suitable food coloring agents known to a person skilled in the art. Suitable spices that can be used in imitation meat chunks and / or gravy include parsley, oregano, sage, rosemary, basil, thyme, and chives, etc.

[0034] The dry pet food disclosed herein can be any food formulated for consumption by pets such as dogs or cats. In one embodiment, the dry pet food provides complete nutrition as defined by the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and this complete nutrition depends on the type of animal the composition is intended for (e.g., dogs or cats). In another embodiment, the composition can be a supplement. Such a supplement can be added to, or administered in combination with, or administered alone. In some embodiments where the composition is a supplement, to enhance the shelf life of the supplement, the total water content of the dietary supplement can be between about 2% by weight and about 10% by weight of the supplement. In one embodiment, the total water content can be less than 5% by weight of the supplement. Similarly, the dietary supplement can have a water activity in the range of 0.20 to 0.6. In one aspect, the water activity can be less than 0.55.

[0035] Those skilled in the art know how to select the appropriate dosage for each additional ingredient. The specific dosage of each additional ingredient depends on a variety of factors, such as: the ingredients contained in the coating composition; the species of the animal; the animal's age, weight, overall health condition, sex, and diet; the animal's feed intake rate; the purpose of administering pet food to the animal; and so on. Therefore, the types and dosages of the additional ingredients may vary considerably and may not follow the types and dosages proposed in the preferred embodiments described herein.

[0036] This disclosure also provides a method for producing dry pet food. In one embodiment, the components of the dry matrix composition are ground, for example, by a hammer mill. The ground components can be extruded and expanded, and as the extrudate exits the extruder in a rope-like manner, it is cut into coarsely ground food by rotating blades or other suitable cutting equipment. The coarsely ground food can be dried to a moisture content of less than about 20%, preferably less than about 15%, and more preferably less than about 10%.

[0037] In one embodiment, the dried, coarsely ground food can be coated with a coating composition, for example, by spraying. The coating composition may include animal fat and flavor enhancers. Non-limiting examples of flavor enhancers include liquid or dried hydrolyzed animal by-products, whole yeast, autolytic yeast, yeast extract, vegetable oils, and other flavor compounds well known to those skilled in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the coating composition comprises animal fat and hydrolyzed animal by-products. The coarsely ground food can then be filled into suitable packaging and sealed.

[0038] At least one of pentaphosphate or its salts may be added to the ingredients of dry pet food, such as a dry base composition and / or a coating composition. If at least one of pentaphosphate or its salts is added to the ingredients of the dry base composition, it is preferable to add it before grinding.

[0039] In one embodiment, the total amount of pentaphosphate or a salt thereof may be from about 0.01% by weight to about 2% by weight of the composition, or more preferably from about 0.1% by weight to 1% by weight, and in one aspect, the dry pet food may be cat food. In another embodiment, the total amount of pentaphosphate or a salt thereof may be from about 1% by weight to about 10% by weight of the coating, or more preferably from about 4% by weight to about 6% by weight of the coating.

[0040] Example

[0041] The following non-limiting embodiments are examples of various implementations provided in this disclosure, and are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting.

[0042] Example 1 – Study of Dry Cat Food

[0043] When applied to dry cat food, the following phosphates were evaluated in comparison to TSPP (tetrasodium pyrophosphate): pentaphosphate (sodium pentaphosphate), hexametaphosphate, trisodium trimetaphosphate, and pentasodium tri(poly)phosphate (STPP).

[0044] The Premium Dry Cat finished product, Friskies Grand Menu, contains phosphoric acid at a ratio of 0.5% equivalent PO4 (normalized phosphorus applied). The coating blend contains 1% yeast and is applied at 4.5% to the chicken fat coated onto coarsely ground food.

[0045] Using a pairwise test, 40 cats were tested over a 19-hour exposure period and compared with a control product that used TSPP as the phosphate in the coating.

[0046] As shown in Table 1, pentaphosphate is the only long-chain phosphate among those evaluated that can match the palatability performance of TSPP (non-significant difference with p > 0.05).

[0047] Table 1

[0048] Surprisingly, pentaphosphate was the only flavor enhancer to perform as well as TSPP (a well-known flavor enhancer). It is noteworthy that the chemical structures are dissimilar in nature, and the effects observed so far are unpredictable, especially since other sodium phosphates cannot replicate the results of TSPP.

[0049] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the currently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. These changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter of the invention and without diminishing its intended advantages. Therefore, such changes and modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A dry pet food composition comprising about 0.01% by weight to about 2% by weight of pentaphosphate, wherein the pentaphosphate is incorporated into at least one of: a matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

2. The dry pet food composition according to claim 1 further comprises protein, fat and carbohydrates.

3. The dry pet food composition of claim 2, wherein the protein is present in an amount of about 5% to about 70% by weight.

4. The dry pet food composition of claim 2, wherein the fat is present in an amount of about 5% to about 50% by weight.

5. The dry pet food composition of claim 2, wherein the carbohydrates are present in an amount of about 5% to about 60% by weight.

6. The dry pet food composition of claim 1, wherein the dry pet food composition is a complete and nutritionally balanced pet food.

7. The dry pet food composition of claim 1, wherein the dry pet food composition is formulated for use in felines.

8. The dry pet food composition of claim 1, wherein the dry pet food composition comprises about 0.1% by weight to about 1% by weight of pentaphosphate.

9. The dry pet food composition of claim 1, wherein the pentaphosphate is present in the coating.

10. A method for increasing the palatability of dry pet food, the method comprising: The pentaphosphate is incorporated into at least one of the following: the matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition, based on about 0.01% to about 2% by weight of the total weight of the dry pet food: the matrix of the dry pet food composition or a coating applied to the dry pet food composition.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry pet food composition is an extruded dry pet food composition.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the pentaphosphate is present in the coating.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry pet food composition is cat food.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry pet food composition is a complete and nutritionally balanced pet food.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the dry pet food composition comprises about 0.1% by weight to about 1% by weight of pentaphosphate.

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