US 2012O093986A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2012/0093986 A1 Bramoulle et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 19, 2012 (54) METHOD FOR PRODUCING HIGHLY (30) Foreign Application Priority Data PALATABLE DRY CAT FOOD Jun. 19, 2009 (EP) .................................. O9305580.4 (76) Inventors: Loic Bramoulle, Sarzeau (FR): Publication Classification Isabelle Guiller, Le Tour Du Parc (51) Int. Cl. (FR); Julien Ruaud. Pleucadeuc A23K L/18 (2006.01) (FR) A23P I/08 (2006.01) A23PI/2 (2006.01) (21) Appl. No.: 13/378,856 (52) U.S. Cl. ......... 426/302: 426/442: 426/656: 426/531; 426/650 (57) ABSTRACT (22) PCT Filed: Jun. 15, 2010 The present invention relates to a method for producing highly palatable dry cat foods, by providing dry cat food (86). PCT No.: PCT/EP2010/0584.05 preparations having specific compositions and/or texture properties, and by adding thereto palatability enhancers, so as S371 (c)(1), to obtain highly palatable dry cat foods. Preferably, the (2), (4) Date: Dec. 16, 2011 present invention provides highly palatable dry cat foods having a rigidity below or equal to about 100 N/mm. Also is Related U.S. Application Data the present invention related to a method for increasing the palatability effect of a liquid palatability enhancer for use in (60) Provisional application No. 61/218,765, filed on Jun. dry cat food preparation, and to kits useful for enhancing 19, 2009. palatability of dry cat foods. Patent Application Publication Apr. 19, 2012 Sheet 1 of 4 US 2012/0093986 A1 A) FIGURE 1 Patent Application Publication Apr. 19, 2012 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2012/0093986 A1 FIGURE 2 Patent Application Publication Apr. 19, 2012 Sheet 3 of 4 US 2012/0093986 A1 A) B) FIGURE 3 Patent Application Publication Apr. 19, 2012 Sheet 4 of 4 US 2012/0093986 A1 FIGURE 4 US 2012/0093986 A1 Apr. 19, 2012 METHOD FOR PRODUCINGHGHLY 0008 Preferably, said dry cat food preparation comprises PALATABLE DRY CAT FOOD at least one ingredient selected from: 0009 phyllosilicates, BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0010 glucomannans and functional equivalents thereof, 0001. The present invention relates to a method for pro 0.011 water-binding proteinaceous materials contain ducing highly palatable dry cat foods, by providing dry cat ing at least 65% proteins, and food preparations having specific compositions and/or tex 0012 combinations thereof. ture properties, and by adding thereto palatability enhancers, 0013 Another object of the present invention is a method so as to obtain said highly palatable dry cat foods. Preferably, for producing a palatable dry cat food, comprising at least: the present invention provides highly palatable dry cat foods a) producing a dry cat food preparation comprising at least having a rigidity below or equal to about 100 N/mm. one ingredient selected from: 0002 The present invention relates to complete and bal 0.014) phyllosilicates, anced dry foods for cats. 0.015 glucomannans and functional equivalents 0003 Pets are well taken care of by their owners who thereof, provide them a proper selection of foods. Those foods include 0016 water-binding proteinaceous materials contain not only their usual diet, but also any Supplements, treats, and ing at least about 65% proteins, and toys. When designing foods for pets such as dogs and cats, 0017 combinations thereof; optimal health and wellness are important goals. Neverthe b) adding at least one palatability enhancer to said dry cat less, the most nutritious pet food is of little value if the food preparation; and animals reject or refuse to eat the food, or if the pet's con c) obtaining a palatable dry cat food. sumption of food is restricted because the pet finds the food 0018 Preferably, said palatable dry cat food has a rigidity unpalatable. Pets, like humans, are attracted to and eat more below or equal to about 100 N/mm. Also, preferably, in step a) regularly and easily foods which they find palatable. In this above, said dry cat food preparation is extruded prior to respect, cats especially are very sensitive to food palatability, drying. Another object of the present invention concerns a so that their feeding behaviour has often been referred to as palatable dry cat food obtainable by the foregoing method. “finicky'. Therefore, palatability is an extremely important 0019. Yet another object of the present invention relates to criterion for pet consumption, and there is a continuous need the use of at least one ingredient as mentioned above for for increasing palatability of pet food, especially of cat food. preparing a palatable dry cat food preferably having a rigidity 0004 Animal foods (or pet foods) typically contain fla below or equal to about 100 N/mm. Vour compositions to increase the palatability thereof, and to 0020. It is stillan object of the present invention to provide make them appealing or appetizing to pets. It is known that a method for increasing the palatability effect of a liquid palatability of dry pet food may be enhanced by some palat palatability enhancer intended to be added to a dry cat food, able components. As an example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,964, comprising at least: Gierhart discloses a palatability composition comprising a) providing a dry cat food or a dry cat food preparation, Sodium acid pyrophosphate to improve cat food palatability. wherein said dry cat food or said dry cat food preparation Another example is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,690.988 preferably has a rigidity below or equal to about 100 N/mm. patent, wherein palatability of the cat food is increased by b) adding said liquid palatability enhancer to said dry cat food adding a choline compound. or said dry cat food preparation; and 0005 Continuing efforts are made to provide pet foods c) obtaining a palatable dry cat food, wherein the palatability with improved palatability. And, adding flavours is not the effect of said liquid palatability enhancer is increased. only solution to increase pet food palatability. For example, 0021. The present invention further relates to palatability US patent application No. 2008/057152 describes a method enhancing kits for producing palatable dry cat foods prefer of ensuring acceptance of a cat food by providing specific ably having a rigidity below or equal to about 100 N/mm. macronutrient content parameters. It thus appears that there are different ways to enhance cat food palatability, resulting BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS in more or less satisfying levels of food consumption by cats. (0022 FIG. 1: Photographs of a Lloyd TA Plus Texture 0006. As a consequence, there is a continuing need for Analyzer, as an appropriate device for measuring texture improving pet food palatability, especially cat food palatabil properties of a pet food. A: TA Plus Texture Analyzer. B: Load ity, and it is of high interest to find palatability-improving cell and probe details of the device. conditions that are acceptable for the manufacturers, e.g., at 0023 FIG. 2: Probe photographs and details. The photo moderated costs. graphs C1) and C2) are views of the stainless cone probe observed under 2 different angles. The pictures D1), D2), D3) SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION and D4) are technical cross section views with dimensions given in millimeters. 0007 An object of the present invention relates to a 0024 FIG. 3: Schematisation of a product texture analysis method for producing a palatable dry cat food, comprising at using a TA Plus Texture Analyzer. A: (1) Kibble to be ana least: lyzed; (2) cone probe; (3) table base. B: (2) cone probe; (3) a) producing a dry cat food preparation having a rigidity table base; (4) pieces of kibble. below or equal to about 100 N/mm. 0025 FIG. 4: Graph representing the texture of a standard b) adding at least one palatability enhancer to said dry cat dry cat food as measured with a TA Plus Texture Analyzer food preparation; and according to a compression-until-breaking procedure. (1) c) obtaining a palatable dry cat food, wherein said palatable Preload; (2) highest peak (i.e., Max Force (N)); (3) breaking dry cat food has a rigidity below or equal to about 100 N/mm. detection corresponding to 0.15x Max Force; (4) deformation US 2012/0093986 A1 Apr. 19, 2012 after preload detection (in mm); (5) slope (i.e., rigidity nents’ or “palatability materials’ mean any material that (N/mm)); (6) surface under the curve until y=Max Force (i.e., enhances the palatability of a food composition to an animal. work (J or N.m)). A palatability enhancer may be a single material or a blend of materials. When a blend of materials, it is not necessary that DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION all materials in the blend be palatable or be as palatable as each other, provided that the blend as a whole is palatable. Definitions Also, a palatability enhancer may be natural, processed or 0026. All references herein to “food” or “foodstuff are unprocessed, synthetic, or part of natural and part of synthetic intended to only refer to a dry food that is manufactured and materials. Palatability enhancers can be liquids or powders sold for cat consumption. In the present context, the terms (dry). They can be used by coating and/or by inclusion. Pal “pet food for cats”, “pet food”, “cat food”, “dry cat food”, and atability enhancers are commonly used in the technical field “dry pet food” are interchangeably used to refer to all types of of the present invention. A large variety of palatability balanced and complete dry foods for cats. enhancers are thus commercially available. 0027. The terms “balanced (and) complete pet food’ 0035.