PARTNER FEATURE ▶▶▶
Stable kibble: three actions for effective mould prevention
Our four-legged friends are more than just pets; they are members of the family. They deserve pet food that is nourishing, safe and supports a long and healthy life.
BY LONNEKE JANSEN, PRODUCT MANAGER PETFOOD, SELKO FEED ADDITIVES A
0.90 0.80 0.70 0.60 0.50 0.40 0.30 0,20
mong the most important quality indicators for pet food are stability and freshness during stor- age. And of course, safety is non-negotiable. With all these attributes in mind, it can be a challenge
to maximise quality targets such as tastiness, production effi- ciency, and nutritional value, while keeping the product free from moulds. Careful extrusion processing tends to aim for a low final moisture level in the finished kibble. Though this helps to control mould growth, it often affects the cost of ex- trusion efficiency and profitability. Achieving the proper bal- ance of moisture content, throughput and petfood quality can support safety and quality parameters without sacrificing production efficiency. This article examines three approaches
to achieving a high-quality product, efficient production, and profitable economics.
1
Managing the moisture levels in petfood Extreme thermal conditions during extrusion and drying processes reduce moisture levels, which can
have an adverse effect on consumption preference. And while simply adding more moisture or decreasing the drying time may seem like a logical solution, additional moisture can neg- atively affect the shelf-life stability of the finished kibble and increases the risk for mould development during
storage.The key is to consider the moisture profile of petfood. This includes both the moisture level, and more importantly, the water activity (aW) value. Water activity and moisture content are re- lated through the moisture sorption isotherm but are not the same parameter. A high water activity means that free water is available for microorganisms to grow and consume valuable nutrients. Feed ingredients that are high in water activity will affect ingredients with low water activity. As moisture
Figure 1 – Fylax Petfood supports even moisture distribution in commercial pet food production. Dryer
aW no Fylax = 0.0568x + 0.1567 R2
= 0.9976
aW Fylax = 0.0486x + 0.1658 R2
= 0.9086
2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0 12.5 13.0 13.5 14.0 Moisture %
0.80 0.75 0.70 0.65 0.60 0.55 0,50 0.45 0.40 0.35
3.5 Cooler
aW no Fylax = 0.0555x + 0.1868 R2
= 0.9879
aW Fylax = 0.038x + 0.2528 R2
= 0.8918 4.0 4.5 aW with no Fylax 20 5.0 5.5 6.0 6.5 aW in Fylax Petfood ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 30, No. 3, 2022 7.0 7.5 8.0 8.5 9.0 9.5
10.0 10.5 11.0 11.5 12.0 12.5 Moisture %
Water activity (aW) value
Water activity (aW) value
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