Pet food product and package

Abstract

To provide a pet food product capable of sufficiently mixing a content of a wet food when feeding the wet food to a pet, and stabilizing the palatability of the wet food even over time after being produced, and to provide a package storing the pet food product.SOLUTION: A pet food product 1 includes: a container 2 having a storage part 23 and a handle part 24 extending from the storage part 23; and a wet food 3 stored in the container 2. In the pet food product, when a load of 2 N is applied in a position of 57% of a length of the handle part 24 in a longitudinal direction of the handle part 24 from a point P where the handle part 24 and the storage part 23 are joined, the handle part 24 has bending of 5 mm or more generated in a vertical direction to the longitudinal direction of the handle part 24 from the point P in a cross section view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] PET FOOD PRODUCTS AND PACKAGING FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to pet food products and packaging. [Background technology]

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

[0003] Pet food can be broadly classified by moisture content into dry food, which has a moisture content of about 10% (12% or less), soft food, which has a moisture content of about 25-35% and is foamed, semi-moist food, which has a moisture content of about 25-35% and is not foamed, and wet food, which has 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 also 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, for products that are consumed within a short period of time after opening, stick-shaped multilayer film containers (so-called stick types) are also widely used. Stick-type food has the advantage of being easy to feed directly to pets. However, when using a stick-shaped film container with a viscous content, it is often squeezed out to the last drop. However, when squeezing out the last drop, if the content is not left near the break opening, the content may stick to the fingertips, staining the fingers and hands. In response to this, a simple squeezer that can squeeze out the content without staining the hands has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-46253 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Registration No. 3218518 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[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. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes the following aspects. (1) A pet food product comprising a container having 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 of the handle 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 according to (1) above, wherein the length of the handle is 15 mm or more. (3) The pet food product according to (1) or (2), 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 storage section join, the handle bends by 20% or more of the distance D from point P to the bottom of the storage section. (4) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (3) above, wherein the handle has a handle Q that serves as a marker for the handle when shaking the pet food product. (5) The pet food product according to (4) above, wherein the handle Q is located at a position 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) above, wherein the handle portion Q has a recess. (7) The pet food product according to any one of (1) to (6) above, further comprising a gas barrier lid removably joined to the edge of the opening of the storage section. (8) The pet food product according to (7) above, 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) above, 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 portion suggesting that the pet food product be shaken 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) above and an oxygen absorber. (12) The package according to (11) above, which is provided with a display section suggesting that the pet food product be shaken before feeding the wet food to a pet. [Effects of the Invention]

[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. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to line II' in FIG. 1 of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 1A to 1C are plan views showing examples of the shape of the handle portion in a pet food product according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pet food product according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 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 normal pressure heat drying method, and the moisture content determined by this method includes the moisture in the ingredients. (Normal pressure heating drying method) The weight of the 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 at 135°C for 2 hours using a forced-circulation hot air dryer. 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: weight%) = (W2 - W3) ÷ (W2 - W1) × 100

[0016] <Pet food products> Hereinafter, embodiments of the 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 assigned the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof may be omitted. 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 of the pet food product according to one embodiment of the present invention, taken along line II' in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the 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 extending upward from the outer peripheral edge of the bottom 21 and surrounding the periphery of the bottom 21, and together with the bottom 21 defining a storage section 23 that opens upward, and a handle 24 extending outward from the peripheral wall 22.

[0019] The material of 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 oval, 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 shape. In particular, from the viewpoint of preventing pet food from being left over and making it easier to feed pets in an appropriate posture, it is preferable that the bottom 21 be polygonal or circular in plan view with six or more sides, and a circular shape is more preferable.

[0021] The peripheral wall portion 22 extends upward from the outer peripheral edge 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 over 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 the upper end of the peripheral wall 22. A detachable 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 portion 22a 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.

[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 more preferably 18 mm or less. When the depth of the storage section 23 is within the above-mentioned preferred range, it becomes easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when shaking the pet food product, which makes it easier to increase the uniformity of the contents with separated flavor, and makes it easier to stabilize the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[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. 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-mentioned preferred range, it becomes easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when shaking the pet food product, it becomes easier to increase the uniformity of the contents with separated flavor, and it becomes easier to stabilize the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[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 the pet food product 1 is viewed in cross section from the side.

[0027] The handle 24 protrudes outward from the peripheral wall 22. From the standpoint of making it easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when shaking the pet food product, 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 portion 24 is within the above-mentioned preferred range, it becomes easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when shaking the pet food product, it becomes easier to increase the uniformity of the contents with separated flavor, and it becomes easier to stabilize the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[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. 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 the pet food product 1 is viewed in cross section from the side. When the thickness of the handle 24 is within the above preferred range, the handle 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 2N is applied to the handle at a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction from point P where handle 24 and storage section 23 join, a bending of 2 mm or more, preferably 4 to 10 mm, and more preferably 5 to 9 mm occurs 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 direction of handle 24 in Figure 2). That is, the pet food product according to this embodiment generates a certain degree of flexibility when the owner shakes it by holding the handle, which makes it easier to thoroughly mix the contents of the wet food when shaking the pet food product, making it easier to improve the uniformity of the contents with separated umami flavor, and stabilizing the appearance and palatability of the wet food.

[0033] When a load of 2N is applied to handle portion 24 at a position 57% of the length of the handle portion in the longitudinal direction of handle portion 24 (direction L in Figure 2) from point P where handle portion 24 and storage portion 23 join, it is preferable that handle portion 24 bends by 20% or more of the distance D from point P to the bottom of storage portion 23, more preferably by 30% or more, and even more preferably by 35% or more. If the flexibility of the handle when shaking the pet food product is within the above preferred range, the contents of the wet food are more easily mixed when shaking the pet food product, the uniformity of the contents with separated flavors is more easily increased, and the appearance and palatability of the wet food are more easily stabilized.

[0034] The shape of the handle 24 is not particularly limited as long as the feeder can hold it in one hand. FIG. 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 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 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 with a plant motif, such as a flower; or a combination of a shape with a tableware motif, such as a fork, and a food motif, such as a boiled egg. The handle and container may have various animal, plant, or geometric patterns, but are not limited thereto.

[0035] The handle 24 preferably has a handle Q that serves as a guide for the handle 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 pet owner can easily grasp the handle 24 using the handle Q as a guide and shake the pet food product, making it easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to the pet.

[0036] The handle Q is preferably located at a position 10 mm to 35 mm from the point P in the longitudinal direction of the handle 24. By positioning the handle Q within the above 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 the 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 a pet. The recesses are typically formed by embossing on the handle Q. Figures 1 to 3 show an example in which the recesses Q1 are formed by embossing on the handle Q in the shape of an animal's paw, but the shape of the recesses 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 section may be 100% or less, preferably 80% or less, more preferably 70% or less, and even more preferably 65% or less. When the fill 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 lower limit to the filling rate of the wet food, but from the viewpoint of preventing scorching during the production process, it is preferably 50% or more.

[0039] (Modified container) Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a pet food product according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, a lid 25 is provided that is removably joined to opening edge portion 22a. Lid 25 has gas barrier properties. By providing the lid 25, it is easy to prevent the wet food 3 in the storage section 23 from deteriorating over time until feeding.

[0040] As shown in Figure 5, lid 25 may have peel-off portion 25a on the handle 24 side. When lid 25 has 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 handle (hereinafter simply referred to as the "extended portion") rubs against the fingers, making a unique sound that easily attracts pets. 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 the pet with the rubbing sound.

[0041] It is preferable that the lid 25 extends beyond the end of the handle 24 in the longitudinal direction of the handle 24. In a more preferable embodiment, 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. Because lid 25 extends beyond the end of handle 24 in the longitudinal direction of 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, making a unique sound that easily attracts pets. In addition, because the extended portion of the lid also functions as an opening part, the lid can be easily peeled off quickly after the pet food product is shaken to mix the wet food contents and attract 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 a 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 a pet is printed on the outer circumferential surface 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 a pet is affixed to the outer circumferential surface of the container or the surface of the handle. By providing the pet food product with the above-mentioned indicator, it becomes easier for pet owners to know that they should mix the contents of the wet food 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 the final form offered to the market. 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, and 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 shapes formed into pellets (grains) in the shape of spheres, polygons, columns, doughnuts, plates, go stones, etc. The size of such pellets is not particularly limited, and, for example, when the pellets are placed on a horizontal table and viewed from above, the minor and major diameters are preferably 1 to 25 mm, and the thickness from the bottom (bottom end) to the top (top end) of the pellets on the horizontal table is preferably 1 to 20 mm, more preferably 3 to 11 mm, and 3 to 9 mm, and even more preferably 5 to 9 mm, and 5 to 8 mm. The form of the base meat portion is not particularly limited, and examples thereof include liquid, gel, solid, and combinations thereof. When a solid is contained in the base meat portion, the form is not particularly limited, and examples thereof 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 carbohydrate 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 lipid 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] Although the physical properties of the contents in this embodiment are not particularly limited, the viscosity of the wet food measured with a Bostwick viscometer is preferably 1 mm / min or more, more preferably 3 mm / min or more, and even more preferably 5 mm / min or more. Also, the viscosity of the wet food measured with a Bostwick viscometer 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-mentioned preferred range, it becomes easier to mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to a pet. Also, when the viscosity of the wet food is within the above-mentioned preferred range, the handle has a moderate flexibility, which causes the container to naturally sway, causing the contained wet food to sway and release a scent, making it easier to attract 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 that make up the wet food are not particularly limited, and ingredients used in conventional pet foods can be used. For example, in addition to protein ingredients, carbohydrate ingredients, vitamins, minerals, salts, fats, oils, and extracts of animal ingredients can also be added.

[0051] When preparing wet food, thickeners may be added as ingredients. Examples of the thickener include 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 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 solid ingredients are intertwined. It is preferable that wet food does not have a form in which soup components and 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, solid ingredients may also be contained. 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 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 ingredients) The raw materials contained in the base meat portion of the wet food are not particularly limited, but the base meat portion can use a protein raw material as the main raw material. Examples of the protein raw material of the base meat portion include plant-derived proteins, animal-derived proteins, and mixtures thereof. Specific examples of the plant-derived proteins include gluten, wheat protein, soy protein, rice protein, and corn protein. Examples of the animal-derived proteins include muscle and organ proteins of beef, pork, chicken, and seafood, milk protein, and mixtures thereof. In addition to the above-mentioned ingredients, the base meat portion may contain fats and oils, chicken extract, fish extract, seasonings, thickeners, water, and the like.

[0058] (Chunk raw materials) The chunk portion of the pet food can be made from a protein raw material, and the same protein raw material as that used for the base meat portion can be used as the protein raw material for the chunk portion.

[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 protein, ash, minerals, vitamins, and the like in addition to carbohydrates, and can therefore be used as a nutrient source. Furthermore, the addition of grains makes it easier to adjust (mainly reduce) the amino acid content of the entire pet food. As ingredients of the chunk portion other than those mentioned above, seasonings, binders, water, etc. may be added.

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

[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 a 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 a 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 a pet is affixed to the package. By providing the packaging with the above-mentioned indicator, it becomes easier for pet owners to know that they should mix the contents of the wet food before feeding it to their pet. [Example]

[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] [Wet food manufacturing] Wet food was produced by mixing 30% tuna, 2.8% thickener, and 67.2% water and extract, grinding the mixture in a mixer, and mixing it evenly.

[0064] [Evaluation of shank 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 handle length and thickness. In each example, wet food of the same composition was used. Using the pet food products obtained for each example, a digital force gauge was pressed against a position 57% of the length of the handle in the longitudinal direction of the handle from point P where the handle and container join, for pet food products with each handle thickness, and the bending distance was measured until a force of 2 N was indicated. The results are shown in Table 1. (Criteria for Mixing Evaluation) ◎: Wet food mixes well. ○: Wet food gets mixed in. ×: Wet food does not mix.

[0065] [Table 1]

[0066] From the results shown in Table 1, it was confirmed 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 the wet food is mixed well when the thickness is 1.5 mm or less. It was also confirmed that when the handle length is 15 mm, the wet food will get mixed in if the thickness of the holding part is 1.5 mm or less. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1. Pet food products 2 containers 21 Bottom 22 Peripheral wall section 23 Storage unit 24 handle 3. Wet food Q Handle Q1 recess

Claims

1. A storage section; a container having a handle extending from the container; Wet food contained in the container; and A pet food product comprising: A pet food product in which, when a load of 2N is applied to the handle portion at a position 57% of the length of the handle portion in the longitudinal direction 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 from point P in a cross-sectional view.

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

3. 2. The pet food product of 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 storage portion join, the handle 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 claim 1 , wherein the handle has a handle portion Q that serves as a guide for the handle when shaking the pet food product.

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

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

10. 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 plurality of pet food products according to any one of claims 1 to 10; An oxygen absorber, A package containing the above.

12. 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.

Images