Dusted Animal Food

• US 20110027416A1
• Filed: 07/31/2009
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mars Incorporated
• Original Assignee: IAMS Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Houston, Michelle Marie, Sunvold, Gregory Dean, Corrigan, Patrick Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,691,303 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/61
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 10/18 of live microorganisms
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 40/30 by encapsulating; by coating
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/42 Dry feed

Abstract

A dusted pet food kibble and a process for dusting a pet food kibble comprising providing a pet food kibble in the form of a core matrix, providing a powder comprising a first component that can comprise an active ingredient, such as Probiotic microorganism particles, and dusting the powder onto the pet food kibble to form a dusted kibble. The dusting can occur substantially free of a binder. An animal feed comprising a kibble in the form of a core dusted with active ingredients.

Claims

1. A dusted pet food kibble, comprising:

a kibble comprising a core matrix and a dusting on the core matrix;

wherein the dusting comprises a powder comprising an active ingredient;

wherein the dusting is substantially free of a binder;

wherein the kibble comprises less than 12% water content.

2. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 1 and wherein the active ingredient comprises Probiotic microorganisms.

3. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 and wherein the activity level of the Probiotic is at least about 10⁵ CFU/g of kibble.

4. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 wherein the pet food kibble has an endurance factor of between about 0.1 and 0.001.

5. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 wherein the kibble has an endurance factor between about 0.1 and 0.001.

6. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 and wherein the powder further comprises an aid selected from the group consisting of a stability aid, a preservative aid, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

7. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 and wherein at least a portion of the Probiotic microorganisms have a particle size of less than about 75 micrometers.

8. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 2 and wherein the powder comprises between about 1 gram per 10,000,000 grams of kibble to about 1 gram per 10 grams of kibble.

9. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 1 and wherein the active ingredient comprises an ingredient selected from the group consisting of sources of fiber ingredients, mineral ingredients, polyphenols ingredients, amino acid ingredients, carotenoid ingredients, antioxidant ingredients, fatty acid ingredients, glucose mimetic ingredients, prebiotic ingredients, enzymes, antibodies, immunoglobulins, cytokines, epigenetic agents, vitamins, and Probiotic microorganisms, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

10. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 1 and further comprising a second dusting.

11. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 10 and wherein the second dusting comprises an active comprising an ingredient selected from the group consisting of sources of fiber ingredients, mineral ingredients, polyphenols ingredients, amino acid ingredients, carotenoid ingredients, antioxidant ingredients, fatty acid ingredients, glucose mimetic ingredients, prebiotic ingredients, enzymes, antibodies, immunoglobulins, cytokines, epigenetic agents, vitamins, and Probiotic microorganisms, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

12. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 1 and wherein the kibble surface area is between about 4 m²/9 L and about 6 m²/9 L.

13. The coated kibble of claim 1 and wherein the kibble is nutritionally balanced.

14. A dusted pet food kibble, comprising:

a kibble comprising a core matrix;

a dusting on the core matrix;

wherein the dusting comprises a powder comprising Probiotic microorganisms;

wherein the kibble is nutritionally balanced;

wherein the kibble comprises less than 12% water content.

15. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 14 and wherein the activity of the Probiotic microorganisms is greater than about 10⁵ CFU per gram of kibble.

16. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 14 and wherein the particle size of at least a portion of the Probiotic microorganisms is less than 75 micrometers.

17. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 14 and further comprising a second dusting.

18. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 17 and wherein the second dusting comprises a vitamin.

19. The dusted pet food kibble of claim 14 and wherein the core matrix comprises a gelatinized starch matrix or a vegetable protein.

20. A dusted pet food, comprising:

a kibble comprising a core matrix, the core matrix comprising a protein source, a carbohydrate source, and a fat source;

a dusting on the core matrix;

wherein the dusting comprises a powder comprising Probiotic microorganisms and is substantially free of a binder;

wherein the kibble is nutritionally balanced;

wherein the kibble comprises less than 12% water content;

wherein the activity of the Probiotic microorganisms is greater than about 10⁵ CFU per gram of kibble;

wherein the powder further comprises maltodextrin and ascorbic acid;

wherein the particle size of at least a portion of the Probiotic microorganisms is less than 75 micrometers.