05/09/2024

INNOCON implements an analytic process in oily matrices for pets

Implementing an analytic process to identify and determine volatile compounds as secondary indicators of fats and lipid oxidation through solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry is an important sign of the company's commitment to quality and innovations in the pet food industry.   Focusing on fresh and quality food, as well as animal welfare, not only improves the product offering in the market but also establishes new standards in the industry. Having the ability to identify and quantify lipid oxidation compounds, such as hexanal, 2,4-decadienal, and 2-heptenal, among others, at trace levels is crucial because these compounds influence consumer organoleptic perception.   It is encouraging that companies like Innocon are leaders in the Biobío Region and contribute to scientific development and the local economy. Roberto Valenzuela, head of the R&D of Chemical and Instrumental Area, and his team are an example of how applied research impacts directly and positively on the pet food industry and, as a result, on society.   By: SETOP   Source: All Pet Food Magazine

27/02/2024

Two essential parameters for pet food launching

By Ludmila Barbi T. Bomcompagni

The fierce competition in the pet food market not only highlights the need for differentiation and excellence in pet food formulation but also emphasizes the importance of validating their effectiveness. Carrying out digestibility tests and fecal score evaluation is one of the crucial methods for evaluating the nutritional pet food quality.   Two essential parameters for pet food launching   Digestibility test The digestibility test is a crucial tool in evaluating the efficiency with which animals use and absorb food nutrients. This method provides a deep understanding of the digestion and absorption capacity of essential nutrients, which is essential for optimizing diet formulations and ensuring adequate nutrition for living beings. By analyzing the digestibility rate of various components present in food, such as proteins, fats, and starch, the digestibility test contributes significantly to the development of more efficient and sustainable feeding strategies, benefiting pet food products. Fecal score evaluation Assessment of fecal score in dogs and cats is a practical and valuable method for monitoring the digestibility of food consumed by these animals. The fecal score refers to the consistency and appearance of feces, being a visual indication of gastrointestinal health and digestive efficiency.
This method involves assigning an appropriate score to stool, usually on a scale from 1 to 5, based on characteristics such as consistency, color, and shape. When applied to food digestibility studies for dogs and cats, fecal score plays a crucial role. Well-formed stools with adequate consistency indicate good nutrient absorption in the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, excessively soft stools, diarrhea, or other abnormalities can be attributed to poor diet digestibility. Fecal score assessment is often performed in experimental feeding studies in which animals are subjected to different diets. By comparing fecal scores over time, researchers can infer the relative digestibility of different food ingredients or formulations. Diets that result in better-formed and more consistent stools generally indicate better use of food nutrients. Visual examination of the fecal score can complement the assessment of digestibility. This approach provides a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of food on the gastrointestinal health of dogs and cats, allowing adjustments to formulations to optimize nutrition and digestibility, thereby promoting pet health and well-being. Evaluating these parameters before launching a pet food product onto the market can give you advantages in comparison with competitors, evaluating whether the processing was done correctly, and identifying in time the need for changes in formulations. A demonstration in practice would be excess carbohydrates in the diet, for example, which leads to accentuated lactic fermentation, and the feces appear pasty with a light color and acidic smell (without a rotten smell). The same occurs when the feed is poorly processed. Normally, to manufacture dry food, a process called extrusion is used, which consists of applying steam and pressure to a crumbled mass, forming those granules that we technically call 'kibbles.' In this process, starch is essential for making the feed expand. However, if it does not undergo good cooking (or gelatinization) there is a risk of causing osmotic diarrhea in the animal fed with the feed in question. (Saad et al., 2014). The use of ingredients with lower digestibility directly impacts the fecal score. Ingredients such as soybean meal, widely used in standard or economical pet food manufacturing, contain 20% non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). Soluble PNAs can reduce the digestibility of nutrients and energy in the diet due to the increase in the viscosity of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the reduction in food passage time, making it difficult for digestive enzymes to access the food bolus and interfering with diffusion and transport of nutrients, resulting in loose stools and large quantities. To minimize the adverse effects of ingredients with less digestibility, their use can be restricted to small inclusions. Otherwise, additives, such as enzymes or adsorbents, can be used. In the case of diets with raw materials rich in NSP and its influence on the fecal characteristics of dogs and cats, for example, the inclusion of a zeolite-type adsorbent additive adjusts the diet fecal score, since this additive, when passing inert through the GIT, adsorbs water and gases and reduces the elimination of ammonia, which improves the fecal characteristics and odors of animals. The animal's fecal score after consuming a feed plays a significant role in consumer satisfaction and can directly influence the repurchase decision. Thus, the digestibility and consistency of the fecal score reinforce consumer confidence in the product. If the food provides healthy and regular digestion, owners tend to associate this quality with the brand, thus strengthening customer loyalty.
Brand trust is crucial for repurchase, as consumers look for products that consistently meet expectations in such a competitive market.

31/01/2024

Quality Control in the Pet food industry through cutting-edge solutions

However, this trend presents significant challenges. Quality control and laboratory analysis processes are often slow and expensive, resulting in production delays, loss of raw materials, reprocessing of batches, and, consequently, the loss of time and valuable resources. All of this has been an obstacle to the efficiency and competitiveness of companies in the industry. The solution to these challenges lies in near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology, which has revolutionized the way the pet food industry approaches quality control, ingredient analysis, and process control. NIR instruments allow multivariate analysis to be performed in less than 10 seconds, providing accurate data for critical parameters such as moisture content, protein, fat, fiber, and ash, among others. As a result, not only is the quality control process significantly accelerated, but a substantial reduction in costs associated with traditional laboratory analysis is also achieved, giving companies the competitive advantage they need to stand out in the industry.   Pet food manufacturing process: critical points   Within the framework of the pet food manufacturing process, there are critical stages identified that require special consideration to achieve efficiency and productivity to obtain a final product of excellence. We cannot reach a good final result if our raw material does not meet the requirements. NIR instruments can quickly provide us with the information necessary to decide whether a batch we are receiving meets them or not. Each food has its recipe, and each variety has its nutritional composition. NIR equipment can help us confirm if the mixture or formula was correctly made prior to entering the extruder. After drying, it is common to apply coatings with fats, oils, or flavorings to make them more palatable, and, in some cases, vitamins and minerals can also be added to strengthen the nutritional content. NIR equipment can monitor the fat or oil content at this stage. Prior to packaging, and after the cooling process, obtaining an accurate reading of the humidity value of the product is essential to prevent common problems, such as the growth of mold or other types of fungi, which can cause deterioration of the product, affect its quality, and lead to significant economic losses. The ideal task for an NIR instrument will not only give us an accurate reading of the humidity value, but also allow us to verify that our final product meets the nutritional requirements we communicate on our packaging. PerkinElmer has been leading the market for years with its DA 7250 analyzer, the third generation of NIR instruments in the company's more than 60-yearhistory. This equipment combines Near Infrared Reflectance technology and a diode array (DA) detector, allowing accurate and reliable results in less than 10 seconds. Thanks to its excellent signal-to-noise ratio, large analysis surface area, and light range used with superior penetration capacity, grinding of raw materials or pre-treatment of samples before analysis is not needed. In addition to its speed in obtaining results, the DA 7250 stands out for its efficiency, simplicity of use, robustness, simple maintenance and cleaning, as well as its extremely friendly operating environment. It also has two online and inline versions, the DA 7440 and DA 7350 respectively, fully compatible with each other in terms of calibrations.     Mathematical models, prediction, and security in the results   Thanks to spectral data from more than 15,000 dry dog ​​and cat food samples from worldwide manufacturers (including kibble, biscuits, tricks, and more), calibrations have been developed to model relationships between NIR spectra and reference chemical results. This has been achieved using Honigs™ Regression (HR) types and Artificial Neural Network Regression (ANN) algorithms, as well as the application of a temperature stabilization pretreatment.

    As an example, the following table shows data from calibrations carried out for samples of dry food for dogs and cats:   The great product variability incorporated in the calibrations, added to the aforementioned characteristics and virtues of the instrument, guarantee accurate and robust measurements over time. The models can be used for whole and ground pet foods with similar prediction accuracy. In parameters such as humidity, protein, fat, fiber, and ash, these models are very precise, with similar differences to the deviations obtained between the two reference laboratories. In conclusion, in a market with increasing demands in terms of quality, nutritional value, and cost, NIR instruments are a powerful solution that offer fast, accurate, and robust results for all stages of the production process, reducing costs and leading to the efficiency and quality of our product at optimal levels.   By: Leonel Fulcheri - PerkinElmer
Source: All Pet Food Magazine

17/08/2023

Bühler offers solution to reduce mycotoxin levels in pet food

Mycotoxins, a poisonous chemical found in the corn used in pet foods, are causing animal sickness and irreparable brand damage. To solve this issue, SORTEX LumoVision, a solution developed by Swiss technology group Bühler, uses the spectral scale to kick out mold from pet food, keeping the costs of market recall down and pets safe. In 2021, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) alerted customers of fatal levels of aflatoxin, a strand of mycotoxin that attacks the liver, found in 1,000 lots of pet food. From the bad batch, it is reported that 130 dogs died. This statistic provoked lawsuits and anger from dog owners and the wider industry. However, the damage of mycotoxin contamination does not stop there. RECALLING PRODUCT IS EXPENSIVE One of the major costs of mycotoxin contamination is market recall. Recalling a product from the market is not cheap, in fact, the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) discovered that the average cost of market recall is USD10 million in direct costs alone. The financial hits of recalling product include: disposing of the product, reimbursing customers, and business interruption. The GMA survey showed that 81% of respondents deemed the financial risk of market recall to be 'significant to catastrophic'. CONTAMINATED PRODUCT DAMAGES BRAND IMAGE Financial costs and damage to health are not the only repercussions of mycotoxin contamination. Once the media are aware of the situation, brand image can take a significant hit. For consumers, it takes a lot to repair trust in a brand, and while brand damage is difficult to measure, this can further cost companies millions in lifetime value. CONTAMINATED PRODUCT CAN CAUSE MASS WASTE Before the LumoVision, contaminated grain would have been disposed of in large amounts. During testing, if the batch has a high concentration of mycotoxin, in many cases, the entire batch is destroyed. In fact, as few as 2 highly contaminated grains in 10,000 can render an entire batch unsafe. The Food and Drug Association (FDA) estimate that USD932 million is lost per year to crops contaminated with mycotoxin. This removal of the contaminated material may protect the consumer, but it costs businesses and the environment a lot more. WHAT CAN BE DONE? Bühler SORTEX faced the challenge of mycotoxin contamination head-on. After discovering a breakthrough 'invisible indicator' of contamination on the spectral scale, Bühler created the LumoVision, an optical sorter that can reduce the aflatoxin level by up to 90% (as indicated by industrial trials). This reduction brings many samples to regulation levels, saving companies from the costs of large-scale material waste and market recall. It works by analysing the colour each kernel fluoresces as it passes under powerful UV lighting in the sorter. It is known that contaminated kernels fluoresce a specific bright green colour, a substance called kojic acid, which is produced by the Aspergillus fungus at the same time as it produces aflatoxin. LumoVision's proprietary, highly sensitive cameras and a powerful LED-based UV lighting system can precisely detect this colour of fluorescence. Within milliseconds of detection, air nozzles deploy to blow contaminated kernels out of the product stream. When dealing with toxins, early intervention is critical. This is not only important in reducing the toxins consumed by pets, but also to lower wastage and the environmental footprint. Without proper cleaning and sorting, poisonous mycotoxins can cause large-scale wastage of materials, mass market recalls, and harm to pets. Dr Gerardo Morantes, Director of Food Safety-Americas Region at Buhler, had the following to say: 'Mycotoxins are a worldwide concern. However, technology made possible by Bühler SORTEX enables a preventative solution, meaning that mycotoxins can be dealt with early, stopping the spread and removing the contamination to meet regulatory standards.' Without intervention, mycotoxin contamination can bare a large cost for businesses, including, brand reputation, market recalls and material waste. With the SORTEX LumoVision, brands can stay profitable, customers can stay happy and pets can stay safe. By Bühler Group

04/01/2023

DON-V™ ONE - The World's FIRST fully quantitative lateral flow strip test for vomitoxin (DON) in finished feed formulations - including pet foods!

DON-V™ ONE offers the world's first lateral flow strip test capable of measuring vomitoxin (DON) in complete feeds and pet foods.  Using a simple, barcode-based universal calibration, DON-V ONE delivers numeric results in minutes while improving safety and sustainability for field, process and laboratory testing environments.  DON-V ONE eliminates high-stakes calibration, reduces time to result and offers unmatched performance for DON monitoring in finished feeds Benefits Safe – Eliminates toxic calibration chemicals
Value – No hidden costs or sample batching required
Fast screening – Actionable results in 5 minutes*
Sensitive – Limits of detection as low as 0.20 ppm
Wide range – 0.20 to 40 ppm†
Convenient – Easily performed on-site or in the lab
Accurate – Results equivalent to HPLC methods   *after extraction † Using high range procedure
This procedure has been validated for a wide range of finished feeds, including pet food by Vicam Source: All Pet Food