petfoodpro 3/2023

INGREDIENTS
Protection of Pet Food with
Natural and Cost-effective
Antioxidants Solutions
Innovative systems to protect new sources of animal proteins
extract is showing excellent performances
in various types of animal proteins and
fats. Mixed tocopherols, vitamin E itself
and Rosemary Extract (botanical extract)
are commonly used in the industry. Our
large Toco-PET range can be used to
protect the many types of meals and fat
used by the industry.
Change is around the corner
A concern for naturalness in human foods
has extended to a greater awareness
about additives in pet food. This has
been accompanied by a slow but steady
increase in the re-evaluation of the safety
of synthetic antioxidants in pet food.
This re-evaluation has extended to the
antioxidants butylated hydroxyanisole
(BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene
(BHT). Most current concerns are
expressed over BHA and, in particular, its
re-authorization for use in cat food.
Alternatives
The transition from synthetics (BHA and
BHT) to natural additives might reveal
that naturalness comes with a challenge
– in terms of both cost and the stability
of the pet food. Therefore, more attention
should be paid to the synergy between
naturals and ‘more acceptable’ synthetics
used in food systems with proven longstanding
safety, such as infant nutrition.
Ascorbates, gallates and chelates work
well with natural antioxidants and are costeffective.
The drivers of these compounds
work together and are suitable for use
in the pet food process. Pet-Safe (which
does not contain BHA/BHT) offers a
great alternative to standard synthetic
antioxidants with a very competitive cost
in use. This provides a very interesting
opportunity for those looking for a
transition between the synthetic and fully
natural solutions.
Synergies of natural options
During the last 20 years, Vitablend
technical team has worked and developed
synergistic solutions using natural and
traditional active compounds to provide
meals, fats, oils, petfood producers with
the solution offering the best cost in use.
This approach helps us developing natural
system offering similar performances of
traditional synthetic antioxidants. The
combination of tocopherols and rosemary
What’s next…. new sources of
proteins
To sustain the increasing demand, the
industry is now looking at new sources
of animal proteins. Vitablend has done
extensive research to find the best
alternatives to protect insect meals and
fat. This type of matrix can contain up to
45% fat which contains polyunsaturated
fatty acids very sensitive to oxidation.
In our recent studies we have tested
various antioxidants systems. Antioxidant
capacity was measured by the induction
point (hrs) to oxidation under accelerated
conditions. The study showed that our
Toco-PET TR 10 L (Tocopherols and
Rosemary Extract) provides a similar level
of protection as a traditional BHA/BHT
synthetic system, enhancing the shelf life
up to 50%. Our Toco-PET TR 10 L is one
example of a very versatile system which
can be used to protect multiple type of
meals and oils.
Technology & Marketing
Vitablend is a manufacturer of
antioxidants and nutritional systems. It
is part of the Barentz Group, and has its
HQ in The Netherlands, factories in The
Netherlands, USA and Singapore.
For more information
www.barentz.com
petfoodinfo@barentz.com
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Technology & Marketing