SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, AFB INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW Creating a product that satisfies a cat’s preference can be challenging. Cats are obligate carnivores, which means they prefer higher protein diets over lower protein diets. They are more sensitive to spoiled food smells compared to dogs. The acidity of food can impact a...
Making Pet Food Taste Great – Petfood Pro September article
Jonathan Flowers, AFB Technician, showing how the Selo steam tunnel produces wet pet food and expands our capabilities to help customers trial new product concepts.
AFB International was founded in 1986 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with a vision to create the best palatants and make pet food taste great. Today, the company is international, with resource centers and production facilities across the world. The palatant profile is formulated to deliver optimal performance for each customer’s unique needs. AFB International is a subsidiary of Ensign-Bickford Industries, a privately owned high-technology conglomerate that participates in businesses like pet food science that is relevant to the future of the world and has multi-generational growth prospects. Doctor Michael Ceddia was recently named vice president of global research and development and the leader of global regulatory quality product management and technical insights that might bring this great leadership experience and strategic customer focus.
“We are excited for him to join AFB and look forward to the advancement in innovations, science-based solutions, and technical services to better partner with our customers,” said Dale Spence, president of AFB International. Following up from a warm welcome at the Interzoo fair in Germany, Ian Healy visited the AFB International pilot plant in St. Charles, Missouri, to meet doctor Mike Ceddia and find out much more about palatants and the science behind them.
Please give us an introduction to AFB International and your personal background.
The company partners with pet food manufacturers to make pet food treats and supplements for dogs and cats taste great, ensuring pets receive the vital nutrients they need. We develop and produce a full range of liquid and dry palatability enhancers that are proven to optimize pet enjoyment and consumption. Clearly understanding our customer’s complex needs provides a firm foundation for success to determine the best approach. We strive to understand the interaction of the palatants with other crucial factors our customers manage.
“I have recently joined AFB International, and I am excited to have the opportunity to be part of the AFB global R&D team. My background includes R&D and consumer products, pet food nutrition, and pharmaceutical companies. I look forward to helping AFB expand our innovation and new product development while continuing to deliver a high level of technical service to our customers. I am eager to bring my knowledge and experience to the team and help drive the company’s ongoing growth. With AFB International’s commitment to innovation and excellence, I am confident that we will continue to achieve great success together.”
What are palatants exactly? How do they work?
A palatant is when a protein source is broken down into amino acids, and then there is a reaction where acids, sugars, and flavors, along with protein and processing conditions, create flavorful compounds for optimal palatability. Palatability is a critical factor in determining the success of pet food products. Palatability is defined as how well food stimulates a pet’s desire to eat, and it’s measured by how desirable pets find their food. It’s a combination of sensory characteristics, taste, flavor, mouthfeel, smell, shape, and texture. Palatability is paramount to pet food sales and brand loyalty, so that’s why our customers trust AFB.
Are they mostly used in powder or liquid form?
Both types are essential, and each have their use type to make pet food taste great. Liquid and/or powder palatants are added to the kibble formulation or as topical application after the fat coating.
Can palatants be used to mask other ingredients? For example, medicines or supplements?
Yes, if and only if you have the right combination of flavors. This is particularly useful for pets who are reluctant to consume medications or supplements due to their taste or odor. Palatants can be a valuable tool in veterinary medicine and pet care by helping to overcome taste aversions and ensure pets receive necessary medications or supplements without resistance.
Demonstrating the different types of packaging that can be used for the thermal process retort, which is a food preservation technique.
Why are AFB palatants better different than those made by other companies?
We stand out from other palatant companies by partnering with our customers from the beginning. Custom needs are addressed to optimize performance. We also only produce palatants – we are good at it, and the dogs and cats tell us.
How does thermal processing affect the flavor, color composition, and taste of pet food?
When it comes to wet pet food, the palatants may be exposed to one or more thermal processing steps, such as an emulsifier, steam tunnel, or retort, before being consumed by the pet. These thermal processing steps may alter a plant’s color and composition. AFB can produce palatants that are stable during thermal processing. Our pilot plant provides companies with effective solutions for conducting scale-up production testing without disrupting their product lines. Our newest equipment is the Selo Steam Tunnel – which produces wet pet food for cans, pouches, and semi-rigid packaging.
In your experience, what expectations do pet parents have from their pet food products or from their suppliers?
Pet parents want their dogs and cats to eat their food and receive the nutrition they need to live their best lives. If the food does not perform, then pet parents see the results – Full bowls of uneaten food! The consumer does not want to throw money away on food that will not be eaten, and they want their dog or cat food product to perform so their pets are healthy. If the pet food tastes good, you have repeat purchases that benefits the suppliers and manufacturers.
Pet parents generally have several expectations from pet food products, including nutritional balance, ingredient quality, safety, and palatability. Meeting these expectations helps pet parents ensure they are providing the best possible nutrition and care for their beloved pets.
Conclusion
AFB has proven to be an expert in making pet food taste good. Functional ingredients can provide additional health benefits to cats and dogs. AFB palatants can be designed to successfully deliver these ingredients. Palatants can be meat or non-meat based depending on desired performance targets, cost requirements, and label claims. Palatants can also be developed for diets using novel proteins not or not yet commonly found in pet food. The company’s success comes from an early and comprehensive dialogue with their clients to create an exclusive and often complex flavor profile. Quality and transparency provide a confident balance for their partners.