Intermediate-moisture animal food process

• US 4,039,692 A
• Filed: 11/01/1974
• Issued: 08/02/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gaines Pet Foods Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Food Corporation (Altria Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clausen, Edward Einar
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Raymond N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Massung, Esther L.
• Application Number:
  US05/519,903
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 426/438, 426/532, 426/657, 426/658, 426/805, 426/439, 426/646, 426/641, 426/99
• US Class Current: 426/532
• CPC Class Codes: A23K 50/45 Semi-moist feed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/805 Pet food for dog, cat, bird, or fish

Abstract

Shelf-stable intermediate-moisture animal or pet foods are cooked by subjecting them to deep fat frying.

Claims

1. A process for preparing a shelf-stable intermediate-moisture animal food product comprising forming a mixture comprised of uncooked proteinaceous meaty material, an edible antimicrobial agent or agents, and sufficient water soluble solutes to impart bacteriostasis to said mixture, the moisture content of said mixture being between 15 to 60% by weight, the A_w of said mixture being below about 0.92, forming said mixture into a desired shape, and deep fat frying said mixture in fat at a temperature of from 250°

F. to 350°

F. for a period of time sufficient to raise the product to a temperature in excess of 140°

F.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein said temperature is in excess of 150°

F.

3. The process of claim 2 wherein said temperature is from 150°

to 250°

F.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the deep fat frying time is in excess of 11/2 minutes.

5. The process of claim 4 wherein said time is from about 2 to about 4 minutes.

6. The process of claim 5 wherein said deep fat frying medium is a vegetable oil.

7. The process of claim 6 wherein said oil is corn oil.

8. The process of claim 5 wherein said deep fat frying medium is a liquid animal fat.

9. The process of claim 5 wherein said moisture content of said mixture is between 15 to 30% by weight.

10. The process of claim 5 wherein said moisture content of said mixture is between 35 to 60% by weight.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein said moisture content is from 35 to 45%.

12. The process of claim 1 wherein said antimicrobial agent is an antimycotic.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein said antimycotic is potassium sorbate.