Pet chew

Abstract

The invention provides a formulation for a pet chew, the formulation comprising plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives. That may be derived from Pea protein. The invention also provides a chew made from such a formulation. The invention further provides a method of making a pet chew comprising: combining and mixing the ingredients including plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives; forming that mixture to a desired shape; and cooking the formed chew.

Description

[0001] Pet Chew

[0002] The present invention relates to chews for pets, especially but not exclusively dogs. The invention also relates to formulations for pet food (such as chews) and the methods for making these.

[0003] There are many known chews for pets, and these often contain collagen, which is derived from meat or animal products. As health awareness continues to rise, consumers are increasingly concerned about food ingredients, nutritional value, and environmental impact including for pets.

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a method and formulation for making a pet food product / chew using plant derived protein to replace collagen and to such chews made from these.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a formulation for a pet chew, the formulation comprising plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives.

[0006] In addition to the plant derived collagen substitute the formulation may comprise other components such as corn-starch, water, solid food pieces, maltodextrin, sorbitol, sugar, colours, flavourings, preservatives.

[0007] The plant derived collagen substitute can be formed by hydrolysis of plant protein. The hydrolysis can use a blend of flavour proteases and a composite protease. The composite protease may comprise alkaline and neutral protease.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a pet chew that has been formed moulding using a formulation as described herein.

[0009] Such a pet chew is devoid, or substantially devoid, of animal derived protein. This renders the chew vegan.

[0010] P19206-SP-01 (1011821.1) According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a pet chew comprising: combining and mixing the ingredients including plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives; forming that mixture to a desired shape; and cooking the formed chew.

[0011] The forming may use extrusion. That extrusion may also provide the cooking. The chews may be dried and or flavoured after formation.

[0012] The invention ideally uses pea protein as a base material, applying bioprocessing, such as hydrolysis, to break down pea (or other plant) protein into easily digestible and absorbable short-chain peptides and amino acids. This not only provides a structure and function similar to natural collagen but also avoids the potential safety risks associated with animal-derived collagen. Thus, it offers a new method for enhancing pet health. The bioprocessing comprises protease enzyme treatment, which is preferably not preceded by any acid hydrolysis.

[0013] The method may include hydrolysis of a plant derived protein to form the plant derived collagen substitute. The hydrolysis can use a blend of flavour proteases and a composite protease. The composite protease may comprise alkaline and neutral protease. The hydrolysis can be carried out at 55-65 °C for at least about 2 hours.

[0014] The most significant highlight of vegan collagen food is its complete departure from traditional collagen sources (such as animal bones and skin) in favour of purely natural, plant-based materials. These materials, including pea protein and other plant extracts, are processed to break down long-chain proteins into short-chain peptides or amino acids, offering a new option for vegetarians and health-conscious consumers.

[0015] P19206-SP-01 (1011821.1) Pea protein is one of the preferred plant-based sources. It is rich in amino acids that help the body synthesize collagen, including glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, which are essential for collagen formation.

[0016] Vegetable derived collagen substitute pet foods, offer unique nutritional components and demonstrate positive effects in maintaining skin health, promoting bone and joint flexibility, and enhancing immunity. They assist in naturally synthesizing collagen, helping to reduce collagen loss due to aging or poor lifestyle habits, thereby promoting pet health.

[0017] The plant derived collagen substitute (or “Vegan collagen”) does not directly provide animal-derived collagen molecules. Instead, it indirectly achieves the effect of supplementation by providing the necessary raw materials for in vivo collagen synthesis or by promoting its natural production within the body. This indirect supplementation not only aligns with vegan dietary principles but also avoids potential allergic reactions to animal-derived ingredients.

[0018] Pea derived protein extract is enzymatically hydrolysed using specific protease enzymes to break down large protein molecules into smaller peptide fragments or amino acid residues, enhancing absorption and utilization. This process is designed to improve and support pet health. This differs from animal derived collagen which must undergo acid hydrolysis prior to any enzyme treatment. Suitable proteases can include flavour proteases and composite proteases. These can be single enzymes or blends of enzymes.

[0019] Vegan collagen is a food or supplement provided by plant-based sources that is designed to promote the pet’s own collagen synthesis or has similar functions to collagen. They are rich in the amino acids and nutrients necessary for the formation of collagen, which helps maintain skin health and promotes bone and joint flexibility. Although it does not directly provide the same protein molecules as animal-based collagen, it can also achieve good health effects through indirect supplementation.

[0020] One example of a production method is summarised below:

[0021] 1 Raw Material Inspection

[0022] 2 Raw Material Weighing

[0023] 3 Plant Protein Enzymolysis (hydrolysis)

[0024] 4 Raw Material Mixing

[0025] 5 High-Temperature, High-Pressure Extrusion

[0026] 6 Baking

[0027] 7 Cutting

[0028] 8 Sauce Dipping

[0029] 9 Baking

[0030] 10 Sterilization

[0031] 11 Metal Detection

[0032] 12 Inner Packaging

[0033] 13 Outer Packaging

[0034] 14 Shipment

[0035] In raw material inspection the raw materials are inspected according to requirements to check compliance to applicable standards.

[0036] Raw materials are weighed using scales. Pea protein and other auxiliary materials are placed separately. The pea protein undergoes enzymolysis at a standard temperature following process operations using appropriate protease enzymes.

[0037] The hydrolysis process can be carried out using a process as follows: • Pea protein (80% purity) can be hydrolysed using a combination of flavour protease and a composite protease (containing alkaline and neutral protease).

[0038] • Hydrolysis is carried out at 55-65 °C for 2 hours in a stirred tank with continuous mixing.

[0039] An example formulation for the enzymatic hydrolysis step (based on a 40.5 kg batch) could be:

[0040] • Water: 35.6 kg

[0041] • Pea protein (80%): 4.8 kg

[0042] • Flavour protease: 0.048 kg

[0043] • Composite protease (alkaline + neutral protease): 0.048 kg

[0044] Other materials, in powdered form and more water as required are added in proportion, heated, and stirred until the powder is completely dissolved and uniform, with no particles.

[0045] High-temperature, high-pressure extrusion is performed using an extruder at high temperature and high pressure. The high-temperature, high-pressure extrusion can be performed at pressure of 0.1 -0.3 MPa, with a throughput of approx. 30 kg / h.

[0046] The extruded product is placed on a mesh tray and baked which dries it. The fully dried product is cut to a standard length. The cut product is dipped in a vegan sauce for flavouring. It is then again placed on a mesh tray for further baking. This baking may be done at 65 °C for 10-16 hours.

[0047] After this the product is sterilized according to the appropriate sterilisation procedure. That procedure may involve UK irradiation at 8 kGy for a suitable time. It undergoes quality control including metal detection, to check for unsafe metal content in the product (which primarily comes from ultrafine metal particles in the air). A metal detector is used to remove non-conforming products with excessive metal content. Qualified products are then packed into designated inner packaging bags, sealed using a sealing machine, and then the inner-packaged products are placed into outer packaging bags, sealed using a sealing machine, and then manually sent to the finished goods warehouse, ready for shipment.

[0048] P19206-SP-01 (1011821.1)

Claims

Claims1 . A formulation for a pet chew, the formulation comprising plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives.

2. A formulation as claimed in claim 1 which further comprises one or more other components selected from corn-starch, water, solid food pieces, maltodextrin, sorbitol, sugar, colours, flavourings, preservatives.

3. A formulation as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the plant derived collagen substitute is derived from pea protein.

4. A formulation as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 in which the plant derived collagen substitute is formed by enzymic hydrolysis of plant protein.

5. A pet chew that is devoid, or substantially devoid, of animal derived protein and which has been formed by moulding using a formulation as claimed in any of the proceeding claims.

6. A method of making a pet chew comprising: combining and mixing the ingredients including plant derived collagen substitute and no animal derived collagen or animal collagen derivatives; forming that mixture to a desired shape; and cooking the formed chew.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 in which the forming step uses extrusion.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 in which extrusion also wholly or partially cooks the chew.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the chews are dried and / or flavoured after formation.P19206-SP-01 (1011821.1)10. A method as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9 which includes a hydrolysis step before the combining step, in which hydrolysis step plant derived protein to form the plant derived collagen substitute.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, in which the hydrolysis uses a blend of flavour proteases and a composite protease.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 in which the hydrolysis is carried out at 55-65 °C for at least 2 hours.P19206-SP-01 (1011821.1)