Method for producing pet food product

Abstract

A method for producing a pet food product (1) provided with a container (8) that has a cup-shaped accommodation part (11) in which wet food (7) is accommodated, and a lid body (sealing sheet 9) that covers an opening (11a) of the cup-shaped accommodation part (11), the method comprising a sterilization step for retort-sterilizing the wet food (7) accommodated in the container (8) in which the opening (11a) is covered by the lid body (sealing sheet 9). In the sterilization step, the retort sterilization is performed in a state in which the opening (11a) of the container (8) faces upward.

Description

Pet food product manufacturing method

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for producing a pet food product.

[0002] Known pet foods include snack foods intended to be given in limited amounts to pets for training, exercise, or as a reward. Pet foods are broadly classified by moisture content into dry foods with a moisture content of approximately 10% (12% or less), soft foods with a moisture content of approximately 25% to 35% and foamed, semi-moist foods with a moisture content of approximately 25% to 35% and not foamed, and wet foods with a moisture content of approximately 75%. Due to their high moisture content, wet foods are packaged in containers and given to pets. Pet food snack products include those that contain wet food in a container and allow pets to eat directly from the container (see Patent Document 1). In this pet food product, the opening of the cup-shaped container is covered with a lid, and the lid is removed from the container when feeding the wet food to the pet.

[0003] In the manufacturing process of pet food products as described above, retort sterilization is carried out after the wet food is filled into containers. In the sterilization process in which retort sterilization is carried out, the containers placed on a support surface such as a support table are pressurized and heated in a sterilization device to be retort sterilized. Because the containers are highly stable when handled by placing them on the support surface, sterilization is carried out with the open side of the container covered with a lid facing downward, i.e., with the bottom side of the container facing upward.

[0004] Patent No. 7108746

[0005] In the above-mentioned sterilization process, for example, voids that existed in the container may move upward, or air bubbles generated by heating the wet food may accumulate at the top, resulting in voids near the bottom of the container. In such cases, after the wet food is heated, the Maillard reaction is likely to occur, in which brown substances appear in parts of the wet food located near the voids. When the Maillard reaction occurs, the brown substances, Maillard reaction products (hereinafter also referred to as reaction products), tend to adhere to the bottom of the container and may remain in the container when the food is fed.

[0006] The disclosed technology has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a method for manufacturing a pet food product that can prevent Maillard reaction products from adhering to the bottom surface of a cup-shaped storage section in which wet food is stored.

[0007] One aspect of the method for manufacturing a pet food product disclosed in the present application is a method for manufacturing a pet food product that includes a container having a cup-shaped storage section in which wet food is stored and a lid that covers the opening of the cup-shaped storage section, and includes a sterilization step in which the wet food stored in the container whose opening is covered by the lid is retort sterilized, and in the sterilization step, retort sterilization is performed with the opening of the container facing upward.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the method for producing a pet food product disclosed in the present application, it is possible to prevent Maillard reaction products from adhering to the bottom surface of the cup-shaped container in which the wet food is stored.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a pet food product produced by a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a sealing sheet has been peeled off from a pet food product produced by a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a container of a pet food product produced by a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 4 is a flowchart for explaining manufacturing steps in a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining a sterilization step in a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view for explaining a sterilization step in a comparative form of a pet food product manufacturing method.

[0010] As used herein, 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 food for pets.

[0011] <Example of Pet Food Product> An example of a method for producing the pet food product disclosed in this specification will be described.

[0012] (Aspect 1) A method for manufacturing a pet food product includes a container having a cup-shaped storage portion in which wet food is stored, and a lid that covers the opening of the cup-shaped storage portion, and includes a sterilization step in which the wet food stored in the container whose opening is covered by the lid is retort sterilized, and in the sterilization step, the retort sterilization is performed with the opening of the container facing upward.

[0013] (Aspect 2) This is also the method for producing a pet food product according to Aspect 1, wherein the container has a holding portion formed by extending in one direction from the outer periphery of the cup-shaped storage portion away from the outer periphery.

[0014] (Aspect 3) The method for producing a pet food product according to Aspect 1 or Aspect 2, wherein the lid is a resin film that seals the opening.

[0015] (Aspect 4) This is a method for producing a pet food product according to Aspect 2, wherein the holding portion is located on the same plane as the plane on which the opening of the cup-shaped storage portion is located, and in the sterilization step, retort sterilization is performed in a state in which the plane on which the opening is located and the longitudinal direction of the holding portion are aligned horizontally.

[0016] (Aspect 5) This is a method for producing a pet food product according to Aspect 4, wherein the cup-shaped storage portion has a circular outer periphery, and when the outer diameter of the outer periphery is D and the length of the holding portion extending from the outer peripheral surface of the outer periphery is L, the cup-shaped storage portion and the holding portion satisfy the relationship D > L, and in the sterilization step, the bottom of the container is placed on the mounting surface of the mounting member and retort sterilization is performed.

[0017] (Aspect 6) This is also the method for producing a pet food product according to Aspect 5, wherein in the sterilization step, a plurality of containers independent of one another are arranged side by side on a placement surface.

[0018] (Aspect 7) The method for producing a pet food product according to any one of Aspects 1 to 6, wherein the container has a void within the cup-shaped storage portion when retort sterilized in the sterilization step.

[0019] (Aspect 8) This is the method for producing a pet food product according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, wherein the container contains wet food in a paste form.

[0020] (Configuration of pet food product) Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a pet food product produced by a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the pet food product produced by a pet food product manufacturing method of an embodiment with the sealing sheet peeled off.

[0021] 1 and 2 , pet food product 1 in this embodiment includes a container 8 containing wet food 7, and a sealing sheet 9 serving as a lid that covers an opening 11a of container 8. Container 8 has a cup-shaped storage portion 11 containing wet food 7, and a plate-shaped holding portion 12 that extends in one direction from the outer periphery of cup-shaped storage portion 11 away from the outer periphery.

[0022] The container 8 is made of, for example, a resin material. The cup-shaped storage portion 11 of the container 8 has a circular opening 11a, and the outer periphery 11b of the opening 11a is formed in a circular shape. The container 8 is formed with a flange 11c that protrudes radially from the opening 11a, circumferentially around the outer periphery 11b of the opening 11a. The base end 12a of the holding portion 12 on the cup-shaped storage portion 11 side is connected to a part of the flange 11c. The holding portion 12 has a plurality of recesses 12c formed on the upper surface of the tip end 12b on the opposite side from the cup-shaped storage portion 11, and the recesses 12c function to prevent fingers from slipping when holding the holding portion 12.

[0023] The sealing sheet 9 seals the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 and is provided so as to be peelable from the opening 11a. The sealing sheet 9 is formed, for example, from a resin film and has an outer shape similar to the outline of the entire container 8. The sealing sheet 9 is heat-sealed in an annular shape around the entire periphery of the flange portion 11c of the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 and is also heat-sealed and bonded to the upper surface of the holding portion 12.

[0024] The sealing sheet 9 covers the upper surface of the holding portion 12, and a tab 9a that is not adhered to the holding portion 12 is provided on the sealing sheet 9 on the side of the tip 12b of the holding portion 12. The opening 11a of the container 8 is opened by peeling the sealing sheet 9 from the side of the tip 12b of the holding portion 12 toward the cup-shaped storage portion 11 while pinching the tab 9a with fingers.

[0025] In the pet food product 1 of this embodiment, in order to prevent the wet food 7 from leaking out from inside the cup-shaped storage portion 11 around the opening 11a and to properly adhere and seal the sealing sheet 9 to the flange 11c of the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, an amount of wet food 7 smaller than the volume of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is stored. As a result, a void V, which is a space where no wet food 7 is stored, is generated within the cup-shaped storage portion 11 (see FIG. 5 ).

[0026] (Wet Food) In the embodiment, the wet food 7 is a pet food for snacking, and refers to a paste-like pet food that contains more moisture than dried dry food. The moisture content of the wet food 7 is typically 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 wet food 7.

[0027] (Detailed Shapes of Cup-Shaped Container and Retaining Portion) FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the container 8 of the pet food product 1 produced by the pet food product production method of the embodiment.

[0028] 3, in the container 8 of the pet food product 1, the holding portion 12 is formed to extend so as to be positioned on the same plane as the plane P on which the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located. The holding portion 12 is also connected to the upper end of the outer circumferential portion 11b of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 where the cup-shaped storage portion 11 opens (hereinafter referred to as the upper end of the cup-shaped storage portion 11).

[0029] The cup-shaped container 11 has a flat bottom 11d, which has a flat inner bottom surface 11e and a flat outer bottom surface 11f that are aligned with the plane P on which the opening 11a is located and with both sides in the thickness direction of the holder 12. Therefore, when the container 8 is placed on a flat mounting surface 15a such as a mounting table 15 serving as a mounting member, the orientation of the container 8 on the mounting surface 15a is stably maintained.

[0030] In the container 8, when the outer diameter of the outer periphery 11b of the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is D and the length of the holding portion 12 extending from the outer periphery of the outer periphery 11b of the opening 11a is L, the cup-shaped storage portion 11 and the holding portion 12 satisfy the relationship D > L. As an example, the container 8 is formed so that the outer diameter D is approximately 40 mm and the length L of the holding portion 12 is approximately 37 mm. Here, the outer diameter D refers to the outer diameter of the outer periphery at the upper end of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, i.e., the outer diameter on the plane P on which the opening 11a is located, and does not include the dimension of the flange portion 11c protruding from the outer periphery of the cup-shaped storage portion 11.

[0031] In this way, by having cup-shaped storage portion 11 and holding portion 12 satisfy D > L, when the bottom 11d of cup-shaped storage portion 11 is placed on horizontal mounting surface 15a with a predetermined amount of wet food 7 stored in cup-shaped storage portion 11, plane P on which opening 11a of cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located and the longitudinal direction of holding portion 12 are kept stably horizontal. In other words, the center of gravity of pet food product 1 is set so that when a predetermined amount of wet food 7 is stored in cup-shaped storage portion 11, container 8 can easily stand on its own with bottom 11d placed on mounting surface 15a with opening 11a of cup-shaped storage portion 11 facing upward.

[0032] In the embodiment, the container 8 has a circular opening 11a as an example, but this does not limit the shapes of the opening 11a, the cup-shaped storage portion 11, and the container 8 as a whole. The opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 may be, for example, elliptical or polygonal.

[0033] (Pet Food Product Manufacturing Process) FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the manufacturing process in the pet food product manufacturing method of the embodiment.

[0034] As shown in Figure 4, the manufacturing process for pet food product 1 includes a filling process (step S1) of filling wet food 7 into cup-shaped storage portion 11 of container 8, a sealing process (step S2) of sealing the opening 11a of cup-shaped storage portion 11 filled with wet food 7 with a sealing sheet 9 after the filling process, a cutting process (step S3) of cutting the sealing sheet 9 along the outer periphery of container 8 after the sealing process, and a sterilization process (step S4) of retort sterilizing the wet food 7 stored in container 8 whose opening 11a is sealed with the sealing sheet 9 after the cutting process.

[0035] Filling here includes placing the wet food 7 in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 so that a void V is formed within the cup-shaped storage portion 11. Retort sterilization refers to a sterilization treatment performed by heating the container 8 containing the wet food 7 with steam or pressurized hot water at 100°C or higher for a predetermined period of time in a pressurized heating chamber of a sterilization device (not shown). Features of the manufacturing method for a pet food product according to the embodiment include the state of the container 8 that is heated during retort sterilization in the sterilization step, i.e., the orientation of the container 8 and the position of the void V within the cup-shaped storage portion 11.

[0036] (Sterilization Step) FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view illustrating the sterilization step in the method for producing a pet food product according to the embodiment.

[0037] 5 , in the sterilization step in this embodiment, retort sterilization is performed with the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 of the container 8 facing upward. Therefore, the container 8 is placed with the bottom 11d of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 facing upward on a mounting surface 15a of a mounting table 15 or the like. Therefore, in the container 8, a gap V is located on the side of the opening 11a in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 facing upward, and therefore a gap V exists between the surface of the wet food 7 located on the opening 11a side and the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9.

[0038] When the wet food 7 in the container 8 is heated with the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 facing upward in this manner, the Maillard reaction occurs near the gap V, and after retort sterilization, there is a risk that Maillard reactant R will be generated near the gap V. Therefore, in the embodiment, within the cup-shaped storage portion 11 of the container 8, the Maillard reactant R will appear partially, for example, on part of the surface of the wet food 7 and part of the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9. Therefore, according to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent the Maillard reactant R from adhering to the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 in which the wet food 7 is stored.

[0039] Of the Maillard reactants R produced in the embodiment, those produced in a portion of the wet food 7 can be easily eaten together with the wet food 7 during feeding. The Maillard reactants R have a fragrant flavor and palatability as a food product, and therefore do not hinder a pet's appetite. Furthermore, when the sealing sheet 9 is formed of a resin film, the Maillard reactants R adhering to the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9 are easily licked off the sealing sheet 9 and prevented from remaining on the sealing sheet 9 because the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9 is smoother than, for example, the inner surface of the resin cup-shaped storage portion 11. Furthermore, even if the Maillard reactants R remain adhering to the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9, they are less noticeable than leftover food in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 because the sealing sheet 9 is separated and disposed of from the container 8.

[0040] Furthermore, as described above, because cup-shaped storage portion 11 and holding portion 12 of container 8 for pet food product 1 in the embodiment satisfy D > L, when a predetermined amount of wet food 7 is stored in cup-shaped storage portion 11 and bottom 11d of cup-shaped storage portion 11 is placed on horizontal mounting surface 15a, the container can easily stand on its own, and therefore plane P on which opening 11a of cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located and the longitudinal direction of holding portion 12 are stably maintained in a horizontal state. That is, in the sterilization step in the embodiment, retort sterilization is performed with plane P on which opening 11a of cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located and the longitudinal direction of holding portion 12 in a horizontal state.

[0041] This prevents the surface of the wet food 7 in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 from tilting relative to the horizontal, and therefore, when Maillard reaction products R are generated, they are prevented from adhering to the side surfaces of the cup-shaped storage portion 11. As a result, when feeding the pet food product 1, it is possible to prevent the Maillard reaction products R from sticking to the side surfaces of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 and remaining there.

[0042] Furthermore, in the sterilization step in the embodiment, a plurality of mutually independent containers 8 are arranged side by side on the mounting surface 15a, and the plurality of containers 8 are clamped and retort sterilized. In particular, when a plurality of individually independent containers 8 are collectively subjected to retort sterilization, the state in which each container 8 is stably maintained on the mounting surface 15a as described above can be prevented from becoming disorganized in the arrangement of the plurality of containers 8 on the mounting surface 15a, thereby improving the ease of handling the plurality of containers 8 in the sterilization step.

[0043] Furthermore, as in the embodiment, when retort sterilization is performed in the sterilization step, i.e., when heated, the presence of voids V within the cup-shaped storage portion 11 storing the wet food 7 makes it easy for Maillard reactants R to be generated by the Maillard reaction between the gas in the voids V and the components of the wet food 7, and therefore the sterilization step in the embodiment is effective. Furthermore, particularly in the case of a pet food product 1 that includes a paste-like wet food 7, as in the embodiment, clumped Maillard reactants R are mixed with the soft wet food 7, making the Maillard reactants R easily noticeable, and therefore the sterilization step in the embodiment is effective.

[0044] Note that, although the container 8 used in the embodiment has a void V in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 before retort sterilization, the container is not limited to one having such a void V. For example, even if no void V is generated in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 before retort sterilization, and void V is generated when air bubbles generated by heating the wet food 7 in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 collect in one place, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

[0045] Furthermore, the sterilization process in the embodiment is not limited to a state in which the bottom 11d of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is placed on the mounting surface 15a, and although not shown, retort sterilization may be performed in a state in which the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is attached to a shelf or the like having a support portion that supports the outer periphery 11b of the cup-shaped storage portion 11.

[0046] 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the sterilization step in a comparative embodiment of a pet food product manufacturing method. The pet food product used in the comparative embodiment is the same as pet food product 1 in the embodiment, and the same components as in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as in the embodiment.

[0047] 6 , in the sterilization step of the comparative embodiment, retort sterilization is performed with the bottom 11d of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 of the container 8 facing upward. Therefore, the container 8 is placed with the opening 11a side of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, i.e., the sealing sheet 9 side, on the placement surface 15a of the placement table 15 or the like. Therefore, in the container 8, a gap V is located on the inner bottom surface 11e side of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 facing upward, and the gap V exists between the surface of the wet food 7 located on the bottom 11d side and the inner bottom surface 11e.

[0048] When the wet food 7 in the container 8 is heated in this state, there is a risk that Maillard reactants R will be generated near the gap V. Therefore, in the comparative example, after retort sterilization, the Maillard reactants R partially appear in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 of the container 8, for example, on part of the surface of the wet food 7 located on the bottom 11d side and on part of the inner bottom surface 11e.

[0049] The Maillard reaction products R produced in the comparative example adhere to the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 during the period from when the pet food product 1 is shipped until when the pet food product 1 is used, and the Maillard reaction products R tend to stick to the inner bottom surface 11e. This means that the Maillard reaction products R tend to remain on the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 when the pet is fed, which is inconvenient and easily noticeable as leftover food.

[0050] In a pet food product having a container for storing wet food, when the wet food is transferred from the container to a plate or the like for feeding, even if some Maillard reaction products remain in the container, the Maillard reaction products in the cleared container are difficult to see when interacting with a pet that eats from the plate or the like. On the other hand, in a pet food product 1 in which the container 8 has a holding portion 12 as in the embodiment, the pet feeds the wet food 7 directly from the container 8 by holding the holding portion 12. Therefore, unlike the comparative embodiment, it is difficult for the pet to lick off all of the Maillard reaction products R that have stuck to the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, and when interacting with the pet, the Maillard reaction products R remaining on the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 are easily noticeable and look like leftover food, which is an inconvenience. The sterilization process in the embodiment prevents such inconvenience.

[0051] Effect of the Embodiment As described above, the method for manufacturing a pet food product according to the embodiment is a method for manufacturing a pet food product 1 that includes a container 8 having a cup-shaped storage portion 11 in which wet food 7 is stored, and a sealing sheet 9 that covers the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, and includes a sterilization step of retort sterilizing the wet food 7 stored in the container 8 whose opening 11a is covered with the sealing sheet 9. In the sterilization step, retort sterilization is performed with the opening 11a of the container 8 facing upward. As a result, even if a void V is present in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 when the wet food 7 is heated in the sterilization step, the void V where the Maillard reaction occurs is located on the opening 11a side, so that generation of Maillard reactants R on the bottom 11d side of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is avoided, and adhesion of the Maillard reactants R to the inner bottom surface 11e can be prevented.

[0052] Furthermore, in the pet food product manufacturing method of the embodiment, the container 8 has a holding portion 12 that is formed by extending in one direction from the outer periphery of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 outward away from this outer periphery. In pet food product 1 in which wet food 7 is directly fed from the container 8 by holding the holding portion 12, if Maillard reaction products R are generated on the inner bottom surface 11e of the cup-shaped storage portion 11, it is difficult for the pet to lick off all of the Maillard reaction products R that have stuck to the inner bottom surface 11e, and when interacting with the pet, the Maillard reaction products R remaining on the inner bottom surface 11e are easily noticeable and look like leftover food. According to the embodiment, such inconvenience can be prevented.

[0053] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method for a pet food product of the embodiment, the sealing sheet 9 of the pet food product 1 is a resin film that seals the opening 11a of the container 8. As a result, even if the Maillard reactants R adhere to the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9, the inner surface 9b of the sealing sheet 9 is smoother than, for example, the inner surface of the resin cup-shaped storage portion 11, and therefore the Maillard reactants R can be easily licked off from the sealing sheet 9, and the Maillard reactants R can be prevented from remaining on the sealing sheet 9.

[0054] Furthermore, in the method for manufacturing a pet food product according to the embodiment, the holding portion 12 of the container 8 is located on the same plane as the plane P on which the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located, and in the sterilization step, retort sterilization is performed with the plane P on which the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located and the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 12 aligned horizontally. This prevents the surface of the wet food 7 in the cup-shaped storage portion 11 from tilting relative to the horizontal, and therefore prevents the Maillard reaction products R from adhering to the side surfaces of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 even if they are generated. As a result, the Maillard reaction products R are prevented from adhering to the side surfaces of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 when the pet food product 1 is fed.

[0055] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method for a pet food product according to the embodiment, when the outer diameter of the circular outer periphery 11b of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is D and the length of the holding portion 12 extending from the outer periphery of the outer periphery 11b of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is L, the cup-shaped storage portion 11 and the holding portion 12 satisfy the relationship D > L, and in the sterilization step, the bottom 11d of the container 8 is placed on the mounting surface 15a of the mounting table 15 and retort sterilization is performed. As a result, when a predetermined amount of wet food 7 is contained in the cup-shaped storage portion 11, the bottom 11d of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 can easily stand on its own when placed on the horizontal mounting surface 15a, and therefore the plane P on which the opening 11a of the cup-shaped storage portion 11 is located and the longitudinal direction of the holding portion 12 can be stably maintained in a horizontal state.

[0056] Furthermore, in the sterilization step in the pet food product manufacturing method of the embodiment, a plurality of mutually independent containers 8 are arranged side by side on mounting surface 15a. As a result, when a plurality of individually independent containers 8 are subjected to retort sterilization together, the state in which each container 8 is placed on mounting surface 15a is maintained stably as described above, which prevents the arrangement of the plurality of containers 8 on mounting surface 15a from becoming disorganized, thereby improving the ease of handling the plurality of containers 8 in the sterilization step.

[0057] Furthermore, in the manufacturing method of the pet food product of the embodiment, when the container 8 is retort sterilized in the sterilization step, i.e., when heated, a void V is present within the cup-shaped storage portion 11. The Maillard reaction between the gas in the void V and the components of the wet food 7 is likely to generate Maillard reactants R, so the sterilization step of the embodiment is effective.

[0058] Furthermore, in the pet food product manufacturing method of the embodiment, the container 8 contains a paste-like wet food 7. When Maillard reaction products R are generated, the clumped Maillard reaction products R are mixed with the soft wet food 7, and the Maillard reaction products R are easily noticeable, so the sterilization step of the embodiment is effective.

[0059] The embodiments and modifications of the present application have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings. However, these are merely examples, and the embodiments of the present application can be implemented in other forms that include the aspects described in the Disclosure of the Invention section and various modifications and improvements based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0060] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pet food product 7 Wet food 8 Container 9 Sealing sheet (lid) 11 Cup-shaped storage section 11a Opening 11b Outer periphery 11d Bottom 11e Inner bottom surface 12 Holding section 15 Placement table (placement member) 15a Placement surface D Outer diameter L Length P Plane R Maillard reactant V Void

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a pet food product comprising a container having a cup-shaped storage portion in which wet food is stored and a lid that covers the opening of the cup-shaped storage portion, the method comprising a sterilization step of retort sterilizing the wet food stored in the container with the opening covered by the lid, wherein the retort sterilization step is performed with the opening of the container facing upward.

2. The method for producing a pet food product according to claim 1, wherein the container has a holding portion formed by extending in one direction from the outer periphery of the cup-shaped storage portion away from the outer periphery.

3. The method for producing a pet food product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lid is a resin film that seals the opening.

4. A method for manufacturing a pet food product as described in claim 2, wherein the holding portion is located on the same plane as the plane on which the opening of the cup-shaped storage portion is located, and in the sterilization process, retort sterilization is performed with the plane on which the opening is located and the longitudinal direction of the holding portion aligned horizontally.

5. The method for manufacturing a pet food product according to claim 4, wherein the cup-shaped storage portion has a circular outer periphery, and when the outer diameter of the outer periphery is D and the length of the holding portion extending from the outer peripheral surface of the outer periphery is L, the cup-shaped storage portion and the holding portion satisfy the relationship D > L, and in the sterilization step, the bottom of the container is placed on the mounting surface of a mounting member and retort sterilization is performed.

6. The method for producing a pet food product according to claim 5, wherein in the sterilization step, a plurality of the containers independent of one another are arranged side by side on the placement surface.

7. A method for producing a pet food product according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a gap exists within the cup-shaped storage portion of the container when the container is retort sterilized in the sterilization step.

8. A method for producing a pet food product according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the container contains the wet food in a paste form.

Images