The invention relates to a process for preparing a composition comprising inactivated or killed Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cells for incorporation in human food/tablets and/or animal feed/ tablets, the process comprising: a) collecting a liquid suspension of Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cells; b) inactivating or killing said Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cells in said liquid suspension; and c) freeze drying said liquid suspension to obtain an inactivated or killed Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cell composition, said inactivated of killed Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cells have preserved at least 80% of the microbe-associated-molecular-patterns (MAM PS) signal potential through the host pattern recognition receptor system. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a composition obtained according to said process, wherein the composition comprises at least 10.sup.8 inactivated or killed Methanobrevibacter archaebacteria cells per gram of said composition, for use in method for improving the resistance to intestinal pathogen infection and/or for reducing intestinal inflammation in a subject.

The present invention refers to an animal feed additive effective as broad-spectrum preservative, said feed additive comprises as active ingredients propionic acid, glyceryl propionates, hexanoic acid and optionally minor amounts of an alkali metal salt and/or a C7-C12 fatty acid. The present invention also refers to the use of said animal feed additive as a mould and/or yeast inhibitor and to the use of said animal feed additive as an inhibitor of aerobic bacteria. In a further aspect, the present invention refers to the use of said animal feed additive to protect an animal feed from aerobic deterioration.

The present invention refers to an animal feed additive effective as broad-spectrum preservative, said feed additive comprises as active ingredients propionic acid, glyceryl propionates, hexanoic acid and optionally minor amounts of an alkali metal salt and/or a C7-C12 fatty acid. The present invention also refers to the use of said animal feed additive as a mould and/or yeast inhibitor and to the use of said animal feed additive as an inhibitor of aerobic bacteria. In a further aspect, the present invention refers to the use of said animal feed additive to protect an animal feed from aerobic deterioration.

Methods of making coated pet food kibble and the kibble product by coating kibble with a composition that include at least one of: (i) lecithin and chicken fat; (ii) lecithin, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid, a sugar monoester of a fatty acid, and chicken fat; (iii) lecithin, N.sup.α—(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester, and chicken fat; or (iv) N.sup.α—(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester-thymol and chicken fat. When the pet food kibble coated with a composition as described above, exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%. This reduction is effective for at least 60 days post coating when compared to pet food kibble coated with a composition lacking one of (i)-(iv). The compositions are also used in a method for treating raw beef or poultry prior to grinding where the ground meat exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%.

Methods of making coated pet food kibble and the kibble product by coating kibble with a composition that include at least one of: (i) lecithin and chicken fat; (ii) lecithin, a glycerol monoester of a fatty acid, a sugar monoester of a fatty acid, and chicken fat; (iii) lecithin, N.sup.α—(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester, and chicken fat; or (iv) N.sup.α—(C.sub.8-C.sub.18) acyl arginine alkyl (C.sub.1-C.sub.8) ester-thymol and chicken fat. When the pet food kibble coated with a composition as described above, exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%. This reduction is effective for at least 60 days post coating when compared to pet food kibble coated with a composition lacking one of (i)-(iv). The compositions are also used in a method for treating raw beef or poultry prior to grinding where the ground meat exhibits amounts of Salmonella sp. that are reduced by about 99%.

The present invention relates to additive ingredients for stabilizing food compositions, as well as methods of stabilizing foods and pet foods using thymohydroquinone (THQ), alone or in synergistic combination with other antioxidants. The use of THQ to prevent oxidation of foods and pet foods has been found to be surprisingly effective in stabilizing all representative food matrices, including fats/oils, fatty foods, baked goods, and meat/poultry.

The present invention relates to additive ingredients for stabilizing food compositions, as well as methods of stabilizing foods and pet foods using thymohydroquinone (THQ), alone or in synergistic combination with other antioxidants. The use of THQ to prevent oxidation of foods and pet foods has been found to be surprisingly effective in stabilizing all representative food matrices, including fats/oils, fatty foods, baked goods, and meat/poultry.

An encapsulated food processing machine receives packages of frozen or freeze-dried food encapsulated in edible film. The machine heats water, pumps it to the portion of the machine with the encapsulated food, and mixes the encapsulated food while heating it with the warm water. The result is a ready-to-eat meal. In use, a user determines a number of packages of encapsulated food based on a pet's size and weight, and places the packages into a specially designed bowl. The user selects the number and type of packages on the machine, which prepares the food via the aforementioned process. The bowl with the ready-to-eat meal is then removed from the machine, and the pet eats the meal directly from the bowl.

An encapsulated food processing machine receives packages of frozen or freeze-dried food encapsulated in edible film. The machine heats water, pumps it to the portion of the machine with the encapsulated food, and mixes the encapsulated food while heating it with the warm water. The result is a ready-to-eat meal. In use, a user determines a number of packages of encapsulated food based on a pet's size and weight, and places the packages into a specially designed bowl. The user selects the number and type of packages on the machine, which prepares the food via the aforementioned process. The bowl with the ready-to-eat meal is then removed from the machine, and the pet eats the meal directly from the bowl.

The present invention relates to a process for treating protein-rich seeds, these seeds being selected from at least one of the following seeds: fava beans, peas, white lupin, blue lupin, yellow lupin. characterized in that it comprises in particular the following successive steps: a) use of seeds of at least one of the abovementioned plant species, provided that these seeds have a protein content, and/or a starch content, and/or a fat content, of a value greater than or equal to a predetermined value, and, at least one of the compounds from the following group: antinutritional factor (ANF), crude cellulose, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in a content below a predetermined level; b) pressurizing the seeds from step a) for more than 10 seconds at a minimum pressure of 10 bars until a temperature of more than 80° C. is reached.