Pet food and pet food packaging

Abstract

We provide pet food and pet food packaging that can improve pets' appetite. [Solution] The pet food has a moisture content of 12% by mass or less and consists of two or more layers of two or more different doughs containing starch and oils, wherein at least one of the two or more layers of dough is visibly mixed with two or more types of dough with different blending ratios of palatability enhancers. Furthermore, the pet food is characterized in that the molded product formed from the two or more layers of dough is coated with oils and external additives.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to pet food and a group of packages for pet food.

Background Art

[0002] With the increasing health consciousness of pets, various pet foods with a balanced nutrition have been proposed. In addition, in order to give pets a new texture, foods such as pet food having a structure in which multiple layers are laminated like a pie crust and having voids between the layers have been proposed.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, if the behavior of a pet to ingest pet food, that is, the biting is poor, the ingestion of pet food does not proceed. Therefore, the quality of biting is important for determining the likes and dislikes and the ingestion amount of pet food, and there is room for improvement in the biting of pet food in the prior art.

[0005] The present disclosure provides pet food and a group of packages for pet food that can improve the biting of pets.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A pet food according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a pet food having a moisture content of 12% by mass or less, and comprising two or more layers of two or more different doughs containing starch and oils and fats, wherein at least one of the two or more layers of dough is visibly mixed with two or more types of dough with different blending ratios of palatability enhancers. Furthermore, the pet food is characterized in that the molded product formed from the two or more layers of dough is coated with oils and fats and external additives. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to provide pet food and pet food packaging that can improve the palatability of pets. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of pet food according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of a method for manufacturing pet food according to one embodiment. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows an example of experimental results regarding the palatability of pet food according to one embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows an example of experimental results regarding the breaking strength of pet food according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of a group of pet food packages according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of a group of pet food packages according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] In this specification, "pet" refers to an animal kept as a pet by a person. In a narrower sense, a pet is an animal that is cherished by its owner. "Pet food" refers to feed for pets. The pet food according to the present invention can be sold as "animal feed" or "animal food."

[0010] <Method for measuring moisture content> In this specification, the moisture content (unit: mass%) is determined by the atmospheric pressure heating and drying method.

[0011] (Atmospheric pressure heating and drying method) The mass of the aluminum weighing container (W1 gram) is measured beforehand as a constant weight. The object to be measured is placed in this aluminum weighing container and its mass (W2 grams) is weighed. Next, the object to be measured is dried using a forced-circulation hot air dryer at 135°C for 2 hours. After cooling in a dry atmosphere (silica gel desiccator), the mass (W3 grams) is weighed. The moisture content is determined from each of the obtained masses using the following formula. Moisture content (unit: mass %) = (W2-W3) ÷ (W2-W1) × 100

[0012] In this specification, the moisture content of pet food shall be the value measured immediately after opening the product, which has been sealed in its packaging container after manufacturing, within 30 days of the manufacturing date, or a value measured under equivalent conditions.

[0013] <Method for measuring breaking strength> This specification describes a compression test method for measuring fracture strength. The compression test is performed using a compression testing machine to measure the stress when the object to be measured (pet food) is compressed at a constant compression rate under the following conditions.

[0014] (Measurement conditions for compression testing) Plunger: Wedge-shaped plunger with a contact surface of 1.5 mm width and 10 mm length, pushing speed: 60 mm / min, measurement temperature: 25°C. Specifically, the object to be measured is placed on a flat platform, and a plunger is pushed vertically from directly above it at a constant speed. The displacement (distance traveled) and stress of the plunger are measured. The measurement is stopped when the plunger has advanced 1.8 mm after contacting the object. A fracture stress curve is obtained with displacement (in mm) on the horizontal axis and stress (in N) on the vertical axis. The stress at the maximum point in the obtained fracture stress curve graph is measured.

[0015] In the examples of this specification, the compression test described below was conducted using a texture analyzer (Shimadzu small benchtop testing machine EZ TEST, model number: EZ-SX, manufactured by Shimadzu Corporation).

[0016] <Pet food> The configuration of the pet food according to one embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the pet food according to one embodiment. The pet food 1 may be food or snacks for animals such as cats. The pet food 1 is a laminate in which two or more different fabrics are arranged in two or more layers in a layered manner. In the example shown in FIG. 1, two layers are arranged adjacent to each other in the pet food 1, but it is not limited thereto, and three or more fabrics may be arranged in a layered manner.

[0017] (Fabric of pet food) The pet food 1 is obtained by a manufacturing method having steps of rolling, molding, and firing a fabric containing a starch source and fats and oils. The molded product of the pet food 1 is substantially rectangular parallelepiped as shown in FIG. 1. In this specification, the direction perpendicular to the two layers is defined as the X direction. The X direction is the lamination direction of the two layers. The direction perpendicular to the X direction and perpendicular to the two side surfaces is defined as the Y direction. The direction perpendicular to the XY plane is defined as the Z direction. The molded product of the pet food 1 may have three or more fabrics arranged in a layered manner in the X direction.

[0018] Examples of the raw material serving as the starch source include grains, tubers, beans, etc. As the grains, known grains as raw materials for pet food can be used. For example, corn, wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye, etc. may be mentioned. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. As a part of the grains, grain processed products such as wheat gluten, tuber processed products such as potato starch, and bean processed products such as pea starch may be used. It is preferable to use at least wheat flour as the starch source. It is also preferable to use wheat flour and wheat gluten in combination. The type of wheat flour is not particularly limited, and any of strong flour, medium flour, and weak flour may be used. Also, the degree of refinement of the wheat flour is not particularly limited, and any of whole grain flour, powdered flour, third-class flour, second-class flour, and first-class flour can be used.

[0019] The fat is preferably a fat having a melting point of 20°C or higher. Specific examples include palm oil, butter, margarine, beef tallow, etc. One kind of solid fat may be used, or two or more kinds may be used. In this specification, the melting point of the fat (in the case of a mixture of multiple components, it means the melting range) is a value obtained by the standard fat analysis test method.

[0020] In the dough of Pet Food 1, within a range that does not prevent the formation of a laminated structure, in addition to cereals and fats, known raw materials used in the production of pet food can be appropriately blended. For example, fats other than solid fats (fish oil, flaxseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, rice oil, olive oil, peanut oil, etc.), vegetables, salt, sugars, additives (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, preservatives, pH adjusters, flavor raw materials, fibers, colorants, flavoring agents, etc., emulsifiers, seasonings), etc. can be mentioned.

[0021] Pet Food 1 has a moisture content of 12% by mass or less, which is comparable to a so-called dry-type pet food. When the moisture content of Pet Food 1 is below the upper limit of the above range, a crispy texture is easily obtained. The lower limit of the moisture content is not particularly limited, but from the point of suppressing moisture transfer from the pet food, 2% by mass or more is preferable, and 4% by mass or more is more preferable.

[0022] Pet Food 1 has two or more different doughs containing starch and fat arranged in layers in two or more layers. In the example of FIG. 1, Pet Food 1 has a moisture content of 12% by mass or less, and two or more different doughs containing starch and fat are arranged in two layers in a layered manner. In the example of FIG. 1, Pet Food 1 has two layers, a first layer 10 and a second layer 20, and the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 are laminated in the X direction.

[0023] At least one of the two or more layers is visibly mixed with two or more types of dough having different proportions of palatability enhancers. The first layer 10 is an example of at least one of the two or more layers in which two or more types of dough having different proportions of palatability enhancers are visibly mixed (for example, in a grid pattern, a layered pattern, or in a state where the second dough 32 formed in the first dough 31 is scattered). The first layer 10 is a mixed dough 3 obtained by mixing the first dough 31 with the second dough 32 which has a higher proportion of palatability enhancers than the first dough 31.

[0024] The first dough 31 is a dough in which the proportion of palatability enhancers, such as chicken liver powder, yeast extract, and enzyme hydrolysate of chicken, differs from that of the second dough 32. For example, the first dough 31 may have a lower proportion of palatability enhancers than the second dough 32. For example, the first dough 31 may be a fish-flavored cookie-like dough. The second dough 32 is a dough in which the proportion of palatability enhancers differs from that of the first dough 31; for example, the proportion of palatability enhancers may be higher than that of the first dough 31. For example, the second dough 32 may be a fish-flavored cookie-like dough with a higher amount of fish-flavored umami components than the first dough 31.

[0025] Thus, the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 have different ratios of raw materials and palatability enhancers. As a result, pet food 1 can be made more palatable to pets by the concentrated umami components of the palatability enhancer that is locally contained in at least one of the two or more layers of dough.

[0026] Furthermore, in pet food 1, the two types of first dough 31 and second dough 32, which have different ratios of palatability enhancers, are visible to humans. That is, in the first layer of pet food 1, the first dough 31 and second dough 32 are not completely mixed together to the point where they are not visible, but rather are roughly mixed together to the extent that each dough is visible. As a result, in pet food 1, the visible first dough 31 and second dough 32 in the first layer evokes in pet owners the image of how delicious pet food 1 is and how happy their pets are when they eat it, thereby increasing their desire to purchase. Note that pet food 1 may contain two or more types of dough with different ratios of palatability enhancers that are visibly mixed together.

[0027] (Pet food coating) Furthermore, pet food 1 is a molded product made from two or more layers of dough, coated with oils and fats and external additives (not shown). For example, pet food 1 may be coated with oils and fats, and then sprinkled with a powdered palatability enhancer as an external additive. This makes pet food 1 more palatable and improves how readily pets eat it.

[0028] (Layer structure of pet food) The first layer 10 is a mixture of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, whereas the second layer 20 is made only from the first dough 31.

[0029] Generally, pet food with a layered structure is more appealing to pets like cats due to its crispier texture compared to granular pet food. However, using only one type of layered structure can result in a monotonous taste. On the other hand, even with pet food using two or more types of structure, if the layers are clearly separated, the texture can become hard in certain areas when chewed.

[0030] In contrast, pet food 1 has a first layer 10, which is a mixture of a first layer 31 and a second layer 32 having a higher proportion of palatability enhancer than the first layer 31, and a second layer 20, which consists only of the first layer 31 and does not contain the second layer 32. As a result, pet food 1 is less likely to have a monotonous taste due to the taste contrast between the two layers, the first layer 10 and the second layer 20, and the palatability enhancer in the second layer 32, which is not present in the second layer 20 but is locally present in the first layer 10, can be perceived more strongly by pets. As a result, pet food 1 can be made more palatable by pets.

[0031] The molded product of pet food 1 may have the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 placed adjacent to each other. This allows pets to eat the pet food 1 with the adjacent first layer 10 and second layer 20 together. As a result, the pet perceives the taste difference between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 more strongly, due to the palatability enhancer in the second dough 32 of the first layer 10 that is not present in the second layer 20. This makes pet food 1 more appealing to pets.

[0032] Pet food 1 may have different visible colors for the first fabric 31 and the second fabric 32. By having different visible colors for the first fabric 31 and the second fabric 32, pet food 1 can achieve improved visibility. For example, pet food 1 with high visibility can increase people's desire to purchase pet food 1.

[0033] The first dough 31 may contain solid matter 33 whose visible color differs from that of the first dough 31. The solid matter 33 may be present in an amount ranging from 2% to 10% by mass relative to the first dough 31. For example, the solid matter 33 may be a solid that enhances palatability, such as chip-shaped pieces of bonito flake flavor.

[0034] Pet food 1 enhances palatability through the visual differences and taste contrasts of the first dough 31, second dough 32, and solid material 33 of the first layer 10, thereby also improving the visibility of pet food 1.

[0035] The second layer 20 may contain more solid matter than the first layer 10. If the same dough is used for both the first dough 31 of the first layer 10 and the first dough 31 of the second layer 20, with the same solid matter 33 mixed in the same ratio, then the first layer 10 is a mixture of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32. Therefore, in terms of the proportion of solid matter 33 in each layer, the first layer 10 contains less solid matter 33 than the second layer 20. In other words, the second layer 20 contains more solid matter 33 than the first layer 10. On the other hand, by using the same dough for both the first dough 31 of the first layer 10 and the first dough 31 of the second layer 20, the manufacturing method of pet food 1 becomes easier, and pet food 1 can be manufactured while suppressing an increase in manufacturing costs.

[0036] In the first layer 10, the ratio of the second dough 32 to the first dough 31 may be within the range of 1 / 2 to 1. If the ratio of the second dough 32 to the first dough 31 in the first layer 10 is lower than 1 / 2, the proportion of the palatability enhancer will be lower, and pets may not eat the pet food 1 readily. Also, if the ratio of the second dough 32 to the first dough 31 is higher than 1, pets may eat the pet food well, but the cost of materials may increase. Therefore, when the ratio of the second dough 32 to the first dough 31 is between 1 / 2 and 1, it is possible to provide a pet food 1 that is palatable while keeping the cost of materials and manufacturing costs down.

[0037] The molded product of pet food 1 is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped enclosed by six faces. The first layer 10 and the second layer 20 extend from the first face, which has the largest surface area among the six faces, to the second face, which is opposite the first face. In the example in Figure 1, both the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 extend from the top surface 101, which has the largest surface area among the six faces, to the bottom surface 102, which is opposite the top surface 101. The top surface 101 is an example of the first surface, and the bottom surface 102 is an example of the second surface. In addition, there is a joining surface 103 between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 that joins the first layer 10 and the second layer 20.

[0038] In the molded product of pet food 1, the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 extend from the top surface 101, which has the largest surface area of ​​pet food 1, to the opposite bottom surface 102, and there is a joint surface 103 between them, so the joint surface 103 becomes the fracture surface and is prone to cracking. In addition, the first layer 10 is prone to delamination due to the mixing of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, which can cause cracking. Therefore, by making the first layer 10, which is a mixture of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, relatively larger than the second layer 20 of pet food 1, it is easier to give pets a softer feel when they chew it. As a result, pet food 1 can be made easier for pets to feel softness and crunchiness regardless of where their teeth make contact when they chew it. This also makes pet food 1 more palatable to pets.

[0039] (Pet food size) The size of the pet food 1 may be such that a pet can eat one kibble at a time. For example, the size of the rectangle formed by the top surface 101 and bottom surface 102 of the surface of the pet food 1 may be within the range of 0.7cm × 0.7cm to 1.6cm × 1.6cm.

[0040] By setting the size of the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 102 within the range of 0.7cm x 0.7cm to 1.6cm x 1.6cm, pet food 1 is sized so that pets such as cats can eat it in one bite, and it is sized so that it can be chewed rather than swallowed whole. As a result, with each chew, the ratio of the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 that are crushed by chewing, and consequently the ratio of the second dough contained in the second layer 20, changes significantly. This allows pets to perceive the difference in taste between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 with each chew, and because the proportion of the palatability enhancer perceived by taste and smell changes significantly with each chew, they perceive the palatability enhancer even more strongly. In this way, pet food 1 provides a taste that changes with each chew, further improving the pet's appetite.

[0041] Furthermore, the molded product of pet food 1 has a side surface 104 that connects the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 102, which have the largest surface area. The side surface 104 is an example of a third surface. The thickness of the side surface 104 connecting the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 102 may be in the range of 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm.

[0042] By setting the thickness of the side surface 104 connecting the top surface 101 and the bottom surface 102 to within the range of 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm, the pet food 1 is sized so that a pet can eat it in one bite and chew it rather than swallow it whole. As a result, the pet can more strongly perceive the difference in taste between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20, and the palatability enhancer in the second dough contained in the first layer 10, when chewing with each bite. Specifically, when a pet chews a bite-sized piece of pet food 1 instead of swallowing it whole, it can distinguish and taste the flavorful parts of the first layer 10 from the less flavorful parts of the first layer 10 and the second layer 20. This makes the pet food 1 more appealing to pets.

[0043] (Soft texture and breaking strength of pet food) Pet food 1 may be a mixture in which the first layer 10 is made up of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, with each dough being visible. The first layer 10 may be a mixture of the two doughs in a layered or marbled manner. For example, in the first layer 10, the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 may be arranged in layers mainly in a direction horizontal to the joining surface 103.

[0044] Because the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 are arranged in layers mainly horizontally with respect to the joint surface 103 between the first layer 10 and the second layer 20, the pet food 1 has a soft texture, making it easier for pets to perceive crunchiness. As a result, regardless of where the pet's teeth make contact when chewing the pet food 1, the pet can feel the crunchiness of the pet food 1 more strongly. This makes the pet food 1 more appealing to pets.

[0045] The pet food may have the property that its breaking strength in the direction horizontal to the joint surface 103 is lower than its breaking strength in the direction perpendicular to the joint surface 103.

[0046] In the first layer 10 and the second layer 20, the first layer 10 may be arranged in layers such that the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 have more layers oriented horizontally to the joint surface 103 than layers oriented vertically. By having more layers oriented horizontally to the joint surface 103 than layers oriented vertically, the breaking strength in the direction horizontal to the joint surface 103 is lower than the breaking strength in the direction perpendicular to the joint surface 103. This makes the pet food 1 more crunchy. This makes the pet food 1 more palatable to pets.

[0047] As described above, pet food 1 has a structure in which two or more different doughs are arranged in layers, and at least one of these layers contains a visible mixture of two or more types of dough with different proportions of palatability enhancers. As a result, pets can taste two or more different flavors with each bite of pet food 1. Consequently, pets can selectively choose from the changes in flavor, allowing them to more strongly perceive the palatability enhancers in the two or more different layers and the two or more types of dough contained in the first layer 10, thereby increasing the palatability of pet food 1.

[0048] The size and shape of the pet food 1 are not limited to those of this embodiment, and it is preferable to design them appropriately to make them easy for pets to eat. Also, the visible thickness of the second dough 32 of the first layer 10 of the pet food 1 (the distance between gaps between layers) is not particularly limited, but for example, it is preferable to have a thickness of about 0.01 to 0.5 mm at its thinnest point.

[0049] (Pet food manufacturing method) The manufacturing method of pet food 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an example of the manufacturing method of pet food 1 according to one embodiment. However, the manufacturing method shown in Figure 2 is just one example, and the manufacturing method of pet food 1 is not limited to this.

[0050] As shown in Figure 2(a), when preparing the dough for pet food 1, water (added water) is added to all the ingredients of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 as needed, and the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 are mixed to a degree that is visible. This forms a gluten network in the dough. The first dough 31 and the second dough 32 are doughs with different proportions of palatability enhancers such as chicken liver powder, yeast extract, and enzyme hydrolysates of chicken. The first layer 10 is a mixed dough 3, which is a mixture of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, which has a higher proportion of palatability enhancers than the first dough 31, while the second layer 20 is the first dough 31 alone.

[0051] Next, as shown in Figure 2(b), the first layer 10, made of the mixed dough 3, is laminated onto the second layer 20, which is made only of the first dough 31, and then rolled. The rolled first layer 10 and second layer 20 are then shaped into the desired form. For example, the first layer 10 is rolled into a plate with a thickness corresponding to the size of the pet food 1 to be obtained, and the second layer 20 is rolled into a plate with a thickness corresponding to the size of the pet food 1 to be obtained. The ratio of the thicknesses of the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 may be 2:1 to 1:1.

[0052] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 2(c), molded pet food 1 can be obtained by cutting perpendicular to the thickness direction or by cutting perpendicular to the thickness direction. After rolling, the dough may be heated to a temperature sufficient to denature the proteins before molding. Heating the dough before molding to denature the proteins in the dough increases the hardness of the rolled dough, improving the workability of cutting or cutting.

[0053] Next, the molded products made from the dough are baked. The baking temperature should be set within a range that avoids problems such as burning if it is too high and taking too long to dry if it is too low. After baking, the molded products of pet food 1 are coated with oil and an external additive. After coating, the molded products are cooled to room temperature to obtain pet food 1. [Examples]

[0054] The pet food 1 according to this embodiment will be described in more detail below using Examples 1 and 2, but pet food 1 is not limited to these examples.

[0055] (Example 1) In Example 1, an experiment was conducted to test the palatability of the pet food. In Example 1, a mixed dough 3 of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 used in the pet food 1 of this embodiment, and the first dough 31 were produced.

[0056] Wheat flour, oil, and a palatability enhancer were used as raw materials for the first dough 31 and the second dough 32. Water was added to the above dough raw materials and mixed to obtain each dough. For the first layer 10, a mixed dough 3 was prepared by mixing the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, which had a higher proportion of palatability enhancer than the first dough 31, to a visible degree. In mixed dough 3, the mixing ratio of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 was set to 2:1 to 1:1. For the second layer 20, only the first dough 31 was used.

[0057] At room temperature, a sheet-like mixed dough 3, approximately two-thirds the thickness of pet food 1, was layered on a sheet-like first dough 31, approximately one-third the thickness of pet food 1, and rolled out. It was then cut perpendicular to the thickness direction to form a rectangular parallelepiped with dimensions of 1.0 cm × 1.0 cm × 3.5 mm.

[0058] After baking the resulting molded product in an oven, it was coated with oil and an external additive to obtain pet food with a moisture content of 12% by mass or less. In other words, as shown in Figure 1, pet food 1 was obtained with a two-layer structure consisting of a first layer 10 and a second layer 20. Pet food consisting only of mixed dough 3 was also produced as an example of the pet food of the embodiment. In other words, pet food consisting only of the first layer 10 was obtained by removing the second layer 20 from the structure shown in Figure 1. Note that the ratio of the second dough 32 to the total dough was the same for pet food 1 consisting of two layers (mixed dough 3 (first layer 10) and the first dough 31 (second layer 20)) and pet food consisting of one layer (mixed dough 3 (first layer 10)). In other words, the content of the palatability enhancer was the same for all pet foods.

[0059] The degree of palatability of the obtained pet food was evaluated. Figure 3 shows an example of the experimental results of palatability of pet food according to one embodiment. The evaluation method used was the two-point comparison method. The two-point comparison method is used to test whether there is a significant difference in preference or quality between two types of samples. Two samples (for example, pet food from the embodiment and the comparative example) were given to pets simultaneously, and the ratio of intake was measured.

[0060] Of the two samples, the sample for Comparative Example 1, shown in Figure 3, used pet food with a single type of dough composition. This single type of dough may be the first dough 31. The sample for Comparative Example 2 used a different pet food than that used in Comparative Example 1.

[0061] In the first experiment on palatability, pets were given both Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 pet food simultaneously. As a result, the average ratio of pet food intake between Comparative Example 1 and Comparative Example 2 was 54:46, indicating that the pet food of Comparative Example 1 was more palatable than the pet food of Comparative Example 2.

[0062] In the second palatability experiment, pet food 1, which consists of two layers, a first layer 10 and a second layer 20 as shown in Figure 1, was given to the pets simultaneously with pet food comparative example 1. As a result, the average ratio of intake of pet food 1 from the embodiment to pet food comparative example 1 was 58:42, indicating that pet food 1 from the embodiment was more palatable than pet food comparative example 1.

[0063] In other words, the pet food in Comparative Example 1 had a uniform taste throughout, with no variation in flavor, resulting in poor palatability. In contrast, the pet food in Embodiment 1 has two layers with different palatability, allowing pets to selectively choose between different flavors, thus resulting in better palatability compared to the pet food in Comparative Example 1.

[0064] (Example 2) In Example 2, the breaking strength of pet food 1 was measured using the compression test method described above. Figure 4 shows an example of the experimental results of the breaking strength of pet food 1 according to one embodiment.

[0065] The breaking strength obtained by compressing in the vertical direction (the direction in which the layers are stacked: the X direction in Figure 1) and the breaking strength obtained by compressing in the horizontal direction (the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the layers are stacked: the Y direction in Figure 1) were measured. The embodiment shown in Figure 4 used pet food 1 with a structure in which two layers, the first layer 10 and the second layer 20 shown in Figure 1, are stacked. In the mixed dough 3, the mixing ratio of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 was set to 2:1 to 1:1. The comparative example shown in Figure 4 used pet food with a dough structure in which the layers are clearly divided into a central dough and upper and lower doughs. The central dough used was the first dough 31, and the upper and lower doughs used was the second dough 32.

[0066] Compression tests were conducted on the pet food of the embodiment 1 and the pet food of the comparative example. The results showed that the breaking strength obtained by horizontal compression was lower for both the pet food of the embodiment 1 and the pet food of the comparative example than for vertical compression. Furthermore, the vertical breaking strength of the pet food of the embodiment 1 was lower than that of the pet food of the comparative example. Also, the horizontal breaking strength of the pet food of the embodiment 1 was lower than that of the pet food of the comparative example.

[0067] In the comparative example pet food, the layers were clearly separated into two doughs of different hardness. In contrast, in the embodiment pet food 1, the first layer 10 had a visible mixture of the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 of different hardness, resulting in a uniformly soft texture. Furthermore, in the first layer 10, the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 were arranged in layers such that there were more layers oriented horizontally to the joint surface 103 than layers oriented vertically, creating a joint surface (layer) between the doughs. As a result, the embodiment pet food 1 had a lower breaking strength, particularly in the horizontal direction, than the comparative example pet food. This made the embodiment pet food 1 softer and more palatable to pets.

[0068] (Pet food packaging) Figures 5 and 6 show an example of a pet food package group according to one embodiment. The pet food according to this embodiment may be a pet food package group P that includes the pet food 1 of this embodiment and any pet food 2 that does not correspond to the pet food 1 of this embodiment.

[0069] The package group P includes the pet food 1 of this embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 6(b), and any pet food 2 that does not correspond to pet food 1 of this embodiment shown in Figure 6(a). For example, pet food 2 is sealed in a bag-shaped first package P1, and pet food 1 is sealed in a bag-shaped second package P2.

[0070] In other words, the pet food package group P includes a first package P1 containing multiple pet food 2s and a second package P2 containing multiple pet food 1s. Pet food 1 in this embodiment is an example of the second pet food. Pet food 2 that does not correspond to pet food 1 in this embodiment is an example of the first pet food.

[0071] The first pet food and the second pet food are identical or similar in external appearance and size. Furthermore, the first pet food and the second pet food each have a first dough 31 and a second dough 32, but the arrangement of the two doughs differs. Additionally, the first pet food and the second pet food are molded using two doughs, the first dough 31 and the second dough 32, which have different visible colors, and are coated with oils and external additives.

[0072] As a result, the arrangement of the two types of dough differs between pet food 1 of this embodiment and pet food 2 that does not correspond to pet food 1 of this embodiment, resulting in different hardness. Therefore, package group P includes pet food 1, which has a two-layer structure and consists of a first layer 10 and a second layer 20 in which the first dough 31 and the second dough 32 are visibly mixed, and pet food 2, which has a different hardness from pet food 1. Thus, package group P allows pets to enjoy the changes in taste and texture of the two different types of pet food 1 and 2 when eating, further improving palatability.

[0073] As shown in Figure 5, the first package P1 and the second package P2 include a display area showing the same brand name. This allows people to easily see that the package group contains multiple types of pet food products from the same lineup identified by the displayed brand, thereby increasing their willingness to purchase pet food.

[0074] Furthermore, the following additional information is disclosed regarding the above embodiments. <Note> (1) A pet food having a moisture content of 12% by mass or less, and comprising two or more different doughs containing starch and oil arranged in layers, Of the two or more layers of the aforementioned dough, at least one layer is visibly mixed with two or more types of dough having different proportions of palatability enhancers. Pet food characterized in that a molded product formed from two or more layers of the aforementioned dough is coated with oil and fat and an external additive. (2) Of the two or more layers of the aforementioned dough, the first layer is a dough obtained by mixing a first dough with a second dough having a higher proportion of the palatability enhancer than the first dough. The pet food according to (1), wherein the second layer of the two or more layers of fabric is the first layer of fabric. (3) The pet food according to (2), wherein the molded product has the first layer and the second layer arranged adjacent to each other. (4) The pet food as described in (2) or (3), wherein the first fabric and the second fabric have different visible colors. (5) The first fabric contains solid matter whose visible color differs from that of the first fabric. The pet food according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the solid is contained in the first dough in an amount ranging from 2% by mass to 10% by mass. (6) The pet food according to (5), wherein the second layer contains more of the solid material than the first layer. (7) The pet food according to any one of (2) to (6), wherein the ratio of the second dough to the first dough is in the range of 1 / 2 to 1. (8) The molded product is in the shape of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped surrounded by six sides. The pet food according to any one of (2) to (7), wherein the first layer and the second layer extend from the first surface with the largest area among the six surfaces to the second surface opposite the first surface, and there is a joint surface between the first layer and the second layer. (9) The pet food described in (8), wherein the dimensions of the first and second surfaces are within the range of 0.7 cm × 0.7 cm to 1.6 cm × 1.6 cm. (10) The pet food according to (9), wherein the thickness of the third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface is in the range of 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm. (11) The pet food according to any one of (8) to (10), wherein in the first layer, the first fabric and the second fabric are arranged in layers such that there are more layers oriented horizontally to the joining surface than layers oriented perpendicular to the joining surface. (12) The pet food is the pet food according to any one of (8) to (11), wherein the breaking strength in the direction horizontal to the joint surface is lower than the breaking strength in the direction perpendicular to the joint surface. (13) The first package contains multiple portions of the first pet food, A group of pet food packages having a second package containing multiple second pet food items, The first package and the second package include a display portion indicating the same brand name, The first pet food and the second pet food are molded products formed using two or more types of dough that are identical or similar in external shape and size but have different visible colors, and are coated with oils and external additives. A group of pet food packages in which the first pet food and the second pet food differ in the arrangement of two or more types of the aforementioned dough.

[0075] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Indeed, the embodiments described above can be embodied in a variety of forms. Furthermore, the embodiments described above may be omitted, replaced, or modified in various ways without departing from the scope and spirit of the appended claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0076] 1 Pet food 3 mixed dough 10 1st layer 20 2nd layer 31. The first dough 32 Second Fabric 33 Solid matter 101 Top surface 102 Bottom surface 103 Joint surface 104 Side view

Claims

1. A pet food having a moisture content of 12% by mass or less, and comprising two or more different doughs containing starch and oil arranged in layers, Of the two or more layers of the aforementioned dough, at least one layer is visibly mixed with two or more types of dough with different proportions of palatability enhancers. Pet food characterized in that a molded product formed from two or more layers of the aforementioned dough is coated with oil and fat and an external additive.

2. Of the two or more layers of dough, the first layer is a mixture of a first dough and a second dough having a higher proportion of the palatability enhancer than the first dough. The pet food according to claim 1, wherein the second layer of the two or more layers of fabric is the first fabric only.

3. The pet food according to claim 2, wherein the molded product has the first layer and the second layer arranged adjacent to each other.

4. The pet food according to claim 2, wherein the first fabric and the second fabric have different visible colors.

5. The first fabric contains solid matter whose visible color differs from that of the first fabric. The pet food according to claim 2, wherein the solid is contained in an amount of 2% to 10% by mass relative to the first dough.

6. The pet food according to claim 5, wherein the second layer contains more of the solid material than the first layer.

7. The pet food according to claim 2, wherein the ratio of the second dough to the first dough in the first layer is in the range of 1 / 2 to 1.

8. The molded product is in the shape of a roughly rectangular parallelepiped surrounded by six sides. The pet food according to claim 2, wherein the first layer and the second layer extend from the first surface with the largest area among the six surfaces to the second surface opposite the first surface, and there is a joint surface between the first layer and the second layer.

9. The pet food according to claim 8, wherein the dimensions of the first surface and the second surface are within the range of 0.7 cm × 0.7 cm to 1.6 cm × 1.6 cm.

10. The pet food according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the third surface connecting the first surface and the second surface is in the range of 0.2 cm to 0.6 cm.

11. The pet food according to claim 8, wherein in the first layer, the first fabric and the second fabric are arranged in layers such that the number of layers oriented horizontally to the joining surface is greater than the number of layers oriented perpendicular to the joining surface.

12. The pet food according to claim 8, wherein the pet food has the characteristic that the breaking strength in the direction horizontal to the joint surface is lower than the breaking strength in the direction perpendicular to the joint surface.

13. The first package contains multiple units of the first pet food, A group of pet food packages having a second package containing multiple second pet food items, The first package and the second package include a display portion indicating the same brand name, The first pet food and the second pet food are molded products formed using two or more types of dough that are identical or similar in external shape and size but differ in visible color, and are coated with oils and external additives. A group of pet food packages in which the first pet food and the second pet food differ in the arrangement of two or more types of the aforementioned dough.

Images