Pet Food Processing - January 2024 - 36

INGREDIENTS
Top: To ensure plantbased
dog food contains
the right balance of
nutrients to support a
dog's wellbeing, a wide
range of ingredients
must be used in the
formulation.
Petaluma
Bottom: Last October,
CULT Food Science
introduced the first
vegan cat treat in North
America - Noochies!
Freeze Dried Cat Snacks.
CULT Food Science Corp.
core ingredients, such as ample sources of iron and manganese,
and less abundant sources of zinc and vitamin
D. There are a small handful of nutrients that are in low
supply - or absent - in plant-based foods that need to
be accounted for, such as vitamin B12, which is almost
always supplemented in meat-inclusive diets as well, in
addition to the feed of livestock. "
Achieving nutritional balance
Plant-based ingredients have varied compositions due
to seasonal changes. Use of multiple suppliers can also
cause deviations in nutrient content. Fortification ensures
that nutrient requirements are being met and deficiencies
avoided. Knowing the nutritional profiles of the
various ingredients within a product will aid in determining
the amount of fortification necessary to ensure
the minimum daily requirement is met. Because many
of these nutrients are only required
in small quantities, they
are often blended together with
an inert carrier and added to
the food formulation in what
is called a " premix. " Premixes
simplify the manufacturing
process and reduce error at the
pet food manufacturing facility.
Petcurean, Chilliwack,
British Columbia, uses a nutrient
mix to fortify its Gather
Endless Valley for dogs with essential
vitamins and minerals.
This complete-and-balanced
vegan recipe is crafted from
organic peas, organic barley,
organic oats, lentils, organic
36 PET FOOD PROCESSING | January 2024 | www.petfoodprocessing.net
sunflower oil, potatoes, quinoa, organic flaxseed, fruits,
vegetables and other non-GMO ingredients. The company
promises that its protein blend contains all of a
dog's essential amino acids.
" The challenges of using plant-based proteins in
dog food have been hugely overstated, " Buck said. " It's
a common misconception that meat-free diets do not
contain enough protein, or that plant-based proteins
are less digestible than animal proteins. Properly formulated
commercial diets, regardless of protein source,
show their work with basic lab testing to demonstrate
digestibility and macronutrient levels. In reality, protein
deficiency isn't a real issue in commercial pet food and is
extremely rare.
" Formulators are using software and affordable nutrient
testing to create nutritionally balanced foods that
take advantage of plant proteins without complexity, "
she added. " Analyses of both the individual plant proteins
and complete diets containing high levels of plant
proteins have consistently shown adequate protein digestibility
- and even higher than many meat meals -
while also delivering beneficial dietary fiber. "
Maygane Ronsmans, product manager of animal nutrition
at BENEO, Mannheim, Germany, agreed that
plant-based ingredients can be used to develop nutritionally
balanced vegan dog foods.
" With our protein toolbox, pet food producers have
access to concentrated and non-GMO sources of highquality
vegetable proteins from rice, wheat and faba
beans, " she said.
An internal digestibility trial conducted by BENEO
shows these ingredients have high- to very-high ileal digestibility
scores; close to 90% for the rice protein and
faba bean protein concentrates, and well above 90% for
vital wheat gluten.
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Pet Food Processing - January 2024

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