Pet Food with Visible Particles and Process for Making Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016295883-A1
Application number	US-201315034447-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 5, 2013
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Oct 13, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The invention provides dry pet food diet compositions that include visible micronutrient particles comprising micronutrients, and improved methods for their preparation. The methods provide pet food diet compositions that have improved palatability and retention of micronutrients.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A pet food composition comprising a plurality of kibbles with one or more micronutrient particles incorporated therein, wherein the micronutrient particles are visually distinct and comprise one or more micronutrients.

2 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise one or more micronutrients selected from antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, carotenoids, glucosamine, chondroitin sulfate, nutraceutical ingredients, nutrient supplements, and medicines.

3 . The pet food composition of claim 1 wherein the micronutrient particles are 0.5-5 mm in size.

4 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles are delayed-release particles.

5 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise 1% to 10% by weight of the pet food composition.

6 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise one or more micronutrients, one or more pigments, and an extrudable binder.

7 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise a micronutrient selected from ascorbic acid, thiamine, and combinations thereof.

8 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise rice and gluten.

9 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise one or more orally acceptable insoluble pigments, e.g., iron oxide, colorant, dye, botanic extract, fermented substance, mineral salt, in an amount effective to impart color to the micronutrient particle.

10 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , wherein the micronutrient particles comprise brewers rice, wheat gluten, ascorbic acid and thiamine.

11 . The pet food composition of claim 1 , therein the micronutrient particles comprise:
from 45% to 55% brewers rice; from 35% to 45% wheat gluten; from 1% to 5% ascorbic acid; and from 1% to 5% thiamine hydrochloride.

12 . The pet food composition of claim 1 wherein the micronutrient particles comprise at least 100 times the concentration of a particular micronutrient relative to the concentration in the rest of the kibble.

13 . The pet food composition of claim 1 comprising kibble made by the method of any of the following claims.

14 . A method for producing a kibble for a pet food composition according to claim 1 , comprising the step of mixing micronutrient particles which comprise one or more micronutrients together with an extrudate, and immediately extruding the mixture.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the extrudate is pre-conditioned prior to mixing with the micronutrient particles.

16 . A method for producing a kibble of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
a) providing a composition comprising pet food raw materials, wherein the particle size of the pet food raw materials is suitable for extrusion; b) preconditioning the pet food composition to produce an extrudate; c) mixing micronutrient particles which comprise one or more micronutrients together with the extrudate; and d) extruding the mixture.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the mixture in step d) is extruded immediately after mixing according to step c).

18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the mixing of the micronutrient particles with the extrudate is performed at a temperature lower than the temperature of any preconditioning of the extrudate.

19 . The method of claim 14 wherein the micronutrient particles are mixed with the extrudate by air-assisted injection.

20 . The method of claim 14 wherein the micronutrient particles are made by
mixing ingredients comprising one or more micronutrients, one or more pigments and an extrudable binder,
extruding the micronutrient mixture thus obtained,
grinding the micronutrient extrudate to provide micronutrient particles of the desired size, and
drying the micronutrient particles.

Assignees

• Hills Pet Nutrition Inc

Inventors

• Lin Hungwei
• Jewell Dennis
• Macleay Jennifer

Classifications

• A23K40/20

  by moulding, e.g. making cakes or briquettes · CPC title

• A61P43/00

  Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00 · CPC title

• A23K50/42

  Dry feed · CPC title

• A23K40/25 Primary

  by extrusion · CPC title

• A23K20/174

  Vitamins · CPC title