PET Food Processing - March 2021 - 10

TRENDS

Both wet and
fresh meal toppers are popular
in this category,
alongside growing demand for
complete-andbalanced diets in
these formats.
Primal Pet Foods

to, Meyers said. Its high-protein Raw Toppers include
frozen kibble-shaped raw meat and organic vegetable
pieces. The company also offers liquid topper options including Raw Goat Milk, which Meyers described as like
" pouring milk on cereal, " and Bone Broths in chicken,
pork, turkey and beef flavors.
" Our fresh and raw foods can provide more moisture as well as probiotics, enzymes, and highly digestible proteins, " Meyers said. " By skipping the high heat
and processing required to make kibble, cans, and other
highly processed foods shelf stable, antioxidants and
other important nutrients are retained and can improve
digestion, skin and coat health, as well as make mealtime
more enticing for picky pets. "
The Honest Kitchen, San Diego, Calif., a 100%
human-grade super-premium brand, also offers goats
milk and bone broth products that it markets as supplements but can be used as meal toppers. In addition,
the company sells dehydrated, whole food cluster meal
boosters under its Proper Toppers line, wet Pour Overs
and limited-ingredient wet Meal Boosters for dogs.
Tiki Pets, owned by Whitebridge Pet Brands, offers
several wet meal toppers for dogs and cats. These include Tiki Dog Aloha Petites Air-Dried Morsels, which
Hudson described as chunks of whole meat diced into
small cubes, slowly air-dried to maintain nutrients and
enhance palatability. Also in the Tiki Dog Aloha Petites
line is its Flavor Booster meal topper, a whole meat
bisque formula for small breed dogs.
For felines, the brand offers Tiki Cat Filets - a moist
whole-meat topper that can also be served as a treat -
and Tiki Cat Complements, a high-protein wet food
supplement intended to add hydration to a completeand-balanced kibble or other dry food.
" [Hydration] is particularly important with cats, since

" The beauty of this trend
is that it's flexible. "
Vikram Ghosh, The Annex by Ardent Mills

PET FOOD PROCESSING | March 2021 | www.petfoodprocessing.net

felines evolved in dry climates where water was scarce,
so they could not drink much and were forced to derive
most of their hydration from their prey, " Hudson said.
Stella & Chewy's, Oak Creek, Wis., offers two wet
meal toppers for dogs: Marie's Mix-Ins and Broth
Toppers. Its single-source protein Meal Mixers line caters to canines with food allergies and can be fed as a
topper or a complete meal.
Aside from customization, variety and hydration,
growing demand for functional nutrition is also driving
this category forward.
" Toppers and mix-ins can provide a range of health
and wellness benefits, including adding vitamins and nutrients, boosting protein intake, supporting healthy skin
and coats, strengthening bones and joints, increasing energy and vitality, and aiding digestion, " Hudson said.
As one example, Tiki Pets offers Tummy Toppers
formulated with pumpkin and wheatgrass to promote
healthy digestion for pets with sensitive stomachs.
Vikram Ghosh, technical lead, The Annex by Ardent
Mills, Denver, shared that certain grain ingredients, such
as wheat germ and wheat brand, can offer functional
health benefits when included in meal toppers.
" Wheat germ provides fat, protein, B vitamins, and
trace mineral content that delivers a high nutrient value
to topper and mix-in applications, " he explained. " Wheat
bran contains starch, protein, and digestible fiber (especially in the aleurone layer), which can be used in formulations to address gastrointestinal health in animals. "
Petcurean, Chilliwack, British Columbia, sells Meal
Mixers that target key health concerns for dogs under its
GO! Solutions™ line. Each formula features freeze-dried
muscle proteins, fruits and vegetables combined with
specific functional food ingredients. The pork formula,
for example, includes glucosamine, chondroitin, tur-

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