PET Food Processing - December 2022 - 33

INGREDIENTS
UPCYCLING
INGREDIENTS
Processors are selecting more ingredients that
appeal to a pet parent's sustainability side.
By Donna Berry | petfoodprocessing@sosland.com
P
Pet food and treat processors have been using upcycled
ingredients - namely in the form of rendered meat byproducts
- before it was even a coined term. Upcycling
is all about preventing healthful, nutritious foods and
ingredients from becoming waste by giving them a second
chance to be consumed. While rendering meat byproducts
into high-protein ingredients rather than disposing
of them in landfills is commendable, it's all the
other ingredients now being upcycled that are catching
the attention of sustainability-conscious pet parents.
Upcycling gains traction fast
The Upcycled Food Association (UFA), Denver, was
formed in 2019 and officially defined the term " upcycled
food " in 2020 for use in policy, research and practice.
The team of consulting experts agreed that " upcycled
foods use ingredients that otherwise would not have
gone to human consumption, are procured and produced
using verifiable supply chains, and have a positive
impact on the environment. "
Since, the UFA has certified 236 upcycled ingredients,
many of which have applications in pet foods and treats.
Four pet food companies - Chippin, Arlington, Va.;
Leashless Lab, Milwaukee, Wis.; Phelps Pet Products,
Rockford, Ill.; and Shameless Pets, Chicago - currently
sport the Upcycled Certified logo.
" Upcycled Certified has been even more successful
than we imagined, " said Turner Wyatt, co-founder, former
chief executive officer and current strategic advisor
to the association. " Every year, almost 1 billion lbs
of food waste is prevented by upcycled products around
the world. This number will continue to grow as consumer
demand for upcycled products increases.
" Lots of Upcycled Certified ingredients can be easily
integrated into any recipe, giving a new product a competitive
sustainability edge, " Wyatt said.
Tony Moses, director, product innovation, CRB
Kansas City, Mo., said, " Upcycled ingredients typically
have the same nutritional properties as other ingredients
but have a different appearance. It's critical that the processing
and control systems account for these variations.
For example, upcycled produce, such as carrots, may
have a wider color range. The control and quality systems
in the facility need to be able to detect and accept
that wider range. "
Phelps Pet Products, a private-label manufacturer that
produces the Table Scraps brand, was the first dog treat
manufacturer to become a member of the UFA and the
www.petfoodprocessing.net | December 2022 | PET FOOD PROCESSING 33
Duynie Ingredients
manufactures plantbased
upcycled
ingredients for the
pet food industry. Its
dehydrated potato
ingredients come
from manufacturing
French fries, crisps,
potato flakes and
potato starch.
Duynie Ingredients
http://www.petfoodprocessing.net
PET Food Processing - December 2022

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