Compact Nutrient Dense Freeze-Dried Pet Food Product

Abstract

A freeze-dried pet food meal bar that is 100% nutritionally complete consisting of more than 30% crude protein, 35% crude fat, less than 20% carbohydrate and less than 10% moisture. The product will consist primarily of animal protein. Vitamins and mineral will be supplied via fruits and vegetables. Since the product is freeze dried the product will be semi-fractural and can be broken into smaller pieces for feeding. Each bar will be approximately 5 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, approximately ½ inches thick and weigh 2 to 3 ounces. A single bar will be targeted to feed a 40 pound dog. Dogs below 40 pounds would feed less than one bar (ex. 20 pound dog gets ½ bar). Dogs above 40 pounds would feed more than one bar (ex. 80 pound dog gets 2 bars).

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A method of providing complete daily nutrition to a dog by providing the dog with a nutritional bar comprising: a. greater than 30 wt. % crude protein; b. approximately 30-40 wt. % crude fat; c. greater than 0 wt. % carbohydrate, but less than 20 wt. % carbohydrate; and d. greater than 0 wt. % moisture, but less than 10 wt. % moisture; wherein the nutritional bar is shelf-stable, freeze-dried, not heat-extruded, has a caloric density of at least 5,000 kcal/kg, contains no artificial ingredients; and wherein the nutritional dosage of the nutritional bar provided to the dog is titrated based on the weight of the dog, and is 100% nutritionally complete for the dog.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the dog weighs 40 pounds and receives 1 nutritional bar.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the dog weighs under 40 pounds and receives less than 1 nutritional bar.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21, wherein the dog weighs 20 pounds and receives ½ of the nutritional bar.

23. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the dog weighs over 40 pounds and receives more than 1 nutritional bar.

24. The method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the dog weighs 80 pounds and receives 2 nutritional bars.

25. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar has a caloric density of at least 6,000-6,300 kcal/kg.

26. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar contains no processing aids, no heat-stable sources of vitamins, and supplies vitamins or minerals via fruits and vegetables.

27. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar is semi-fractural.

28. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar weighs less than 3 ounces, is approximately 5 to 6 inches long, approximately ½ inch thick, and approximately 2 to 3 inches wide.

29. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Beef; Beef Liver; Sweet Potato; Chickpeas; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Sea Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols.

30. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Beef; Chicken; Beef Liver; Chicken Liver; Chickpeas; Sweet Potato; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols.

31. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients: Turkey, Duck; Turkey Liver; Chickpeas; Sweet Potato; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; and Tocopherols.

32. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following: Beef; Chicken; Beef Liver; Chicken Liver; Pumpkin; Sweet Potato; Chicory Root; Flaxseed; Coconut Oil; Salt; Natural Vitamin/Mineral Mix derived from fruits and vegetables; Probiotics; and Tocopherols.

33. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the nutritional bar comprises the following ingredients on a percentage basis by weight: TABLE-US-00007 Ingredients Inclusion, wt. % Beef 47.08 Beef Liver 34.72 Sweet Potato 5.00 Chickpeas 5.00 Flaxseed 3.00 Coconut Oil 2.50 Bone Meal 2.00 Sea Salt 0.40 Vit/Min Mix 0.20 Tocopherols 0.10

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] We have created and designed a freeze-dried pet food meal bar that is 100% nutritionally complete consisting of more than 30% crude protein, 35% crude fat, less than 20% carbohydrate and less than 10% moisture. The product consists primarily of animal protein (>70%). The remainder of the bar (<30%) consists of components to make the bar 100% nutritionally complete. This includes and is not limited to ingredients such as sea salt, bone meal, sweet potato, chickpeas, flaxseed, coconut oil, fruits, vegetables and mixed tocopherols. For those skilled in the art other ingredients can be used to supply or complement the animal protein to ensure a 100% complete and balanced bar is produced. Additionally, animal protein sources may include and are not limited to the following: beef, chicken, fish, alligator, rabbit, turkey, duck, game birds, venison, bison and elk.

[0017] Vitamins and mineral will be supplied via fruits and vegetables. Since the product is freeze dried the product will be semi-fractural and can be broken into smaller pieces for feeding. Each bar will be approximately 5 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, approximately ½ inches thick and weigh 2 to 3 ounces. A single bar will be targeted to feed a 40 pound dog. Dogs below 40 pounds would feed less than one bar (ex. 20 pound dog gets ½ bar). Dogs above 40 pounds would feed more than one bar (ex. 80 pound dog gets 2 bars).

[0018] Nutritionally Complete is defined by Association of American Feed Control Officials 2017 Official Publication page 142 when the product meets the nutrient requirements for a particular life stage as established by an AAFCO recognized nutrient profile (p152 to 166; AAFCO 2017) or completion of an AAFCO-recognized feeding protocol.

[0019] The nutritional bar of the invention is both compact and nutrient dense. The inventors have achieved a nutritional bar with a high caloric density. Specifically, the nutrition bar of the invention has a caloric density of greater than 5000 kcal/kg. In a preferred embodiment the bar has a caloric density of greater than 5500 kcal/kg. The nutrition bar of the invention can be produced with a density of 6300 kcal/kg or greater which is anywhere from 66% to 90% greater than extruded kibble based food.

[0020] Since the bar is freeze dried, the ingredients do not require any processing aids (ex. flow agents, antimicrobial agents (i.e. lactic acid or phosphoric acid) or heat stable sources of vitamins/minerals (ex. L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C) or over supplementation of vitamins/fats to ensure recovery at the end of thermal processing (>160° F.).

[0021] Freeze drying can be accomplished using any one of the standard freeze drying techniques used for food and food related products. Mixed ingredients are first frozen and then put in a high-pressure state. This does not create ice crystals that can damage cell walls and delicate molecules, destroying food texture and valuable nutrients (“freezer burn”). Instead, the high-pressure solid water is then sublimated: converted directly from a solid to a gas—and removed from the food. This unique process has several advantages: All moisture is completely removed from the food, stopping all enzymatic action and bacterial growth. The food's structure, texture, and nutritional content are wholly retained. It is now less than half the weight, easy to ship or store, with a shelf life that other preservation methods cannot compare to.

[0022] The meal bars of the invention were produced using a modified freeze-drying process. The food is first checked for contamination and purity. Fruits, meats, and some other edibles are tested for bacterial counts and spoilage. Much of the work of the plant is dependent on the harvest season for each food. The food pieces are spread out on flat, metal trays which are stacked 20 to 30 high in slots in a wheeled cart. With food that has been pre-cooked and frozen, the trays are pre-chilled to prevent partial thawing during handling. The carts are wheeled into a large, walk-in coldroom where the temperature can be as low as −40° F. (−40° C.). In this extremely cold temperature, the food is quickly frozen and the carts are kept in a coldroom until it is time to move them into the drying chamber.

[0023] The carts are wheeled out of the coldroom and into a vacuum drying chamber. The drying chamber is a large, long, horizontal cylinder with semi-elliptical ends. One end is hinged to open and close. When the trays of frozen food pieces are inside, the chamber is closed and sealed.

[0024] The drying procedure involves a process known as sublimation. In sublimation, a solid material is forced to change state into a gaseous material without ever becoming a liquid. In the case of freeze-dried food, the solid ice crystals trapped in the frozen food pieces are forced to change into water vapor without ever becoming liquid water. In the drying chamber, this is accomplished by evacuating the air with a vacuum pump to reduce the pressure to about 0.036 psi (0.0025 bar). The temperature of the food is raised to about 100° F. (38° C.) by direct conduction through the bottom of the trays, radiation from heat lamps, or microwave heating. When the chamber is evacuated of air, the pressure is below the threshold at which water can simultaneously exist in a solid, liquid, and gaseous (vapor) state. This threshold is known as the triple point of water. Once the pressure falls below this point, the heat causes the ice crystals trapped in the frozen pieces of food to change directly to water vapor. The vapor is drawn off and condensed within the chamber leaving the food behind. The dried food is filled with tiny voids, like a sponge, where the ice crystals were once present. Not only does this make it easier for the food to reabsorb water when it is prepared for consumption, but the dried food retains its original size and shape. The time for this drying process varies. Semi-solids and solids may take 12 hours or more. The dried food pieces are removed from the drying chamber and tested for moisture content and purity.

[0025] Freeze-dried foods must be sealed in airtight containers to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the air. Food has an inert gas like nitrogen injected into the container before sealing to displace the oxygen in the air to prevent oxidation or spoiling of the food. The packaging is done in the freeze-dry plant almost as soon as the foods come out of the drying chamber. The plant can form, fill, and seal the packages to the desired weight for the end user. Packages that are to be sold directly to the consumer are packed in cartons, stacked on pallets, and transported to the warehouse.

[0026] Each bar is approximately 5 to 6 inches long, 2 to 3 inches wide, approximately ½ inches thick and weigh 2 to 3 ounces. A single bar will be targeted to feed a 40 pound dog.

[0027] By way of example a bar was produced using the formula of Table 1 below:

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Formula Example (Beef Only): Ingredients Inclusion, % Beef 47.08 Beef Liver 34.72 Sweet Potato 5.00 Chickpeas 5.00 Flaxseed 3.00 Coconut Oil 2.50 Bone Meal 2.00 Sea Salt 0.40 Vit/Min Mix* 0.20 Tocopherols  0.10 *Proprietary Vegetable & Fruit Blend  Natural Antioxidant

[0028] The resulting bar was analyzed by a third-party laboratory and the following values were determined for the relevant nutritional (TABLE 2):

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Analyzed Values (3.sup.rd Party Laboratory): Nutrient Value Moisture 3.99% Crude Protein 34.9% Crude Fat 38.1% Crude Fiber 2.88% Ash 4.13% Carbohydrate* 16.0% *Calculated as Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) NFE = (100-moisture-crude protein-crude fat-crude fiber-ash)

[0029] The resulting bar was tested for digestibility by a 3.sup.rd party animal testing facility. Digestibility analysis was performed according to the recommended protocol for use in the determination of metabolizable energy of dog food as defined by Method 1 of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The digestibility analysis results were as follows:

TABLE-US-00003 Nutrient % Digestibility Standard Error of Mean Dry Matter (Total Food) 90.1 ±1.21 Protein 91.6 ±0.80 Fat 95.7 ±0.52 Energy (Calories) 93.1 ±0.78

[0030] For those skilled in the art, formulations could be developed using different protein sources or therapeutic benefits. Some examples of additional formulations include and are not limited to Tables 3, 4 and 5 below:

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 3 Formula Example (Beef & Chicken) Ingredient % Inclusion Beef 32.1 Chicken 27.0 Beef Liver 19.7 Chicken Liver 5.0 Chickpeas 5.0 Sweet Potato 4.1 Flaxseed 3.0 Coconut Oil 2.5 Bone Meal 0.9 Salt 0.4 Vit/min Mix* 0.2 Tocopherols  0.1 *Proprietary Vegetable & Fruit Blend  Natural Antioxidant

TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 4 Formula Example (Turkey and Duck) Ingredient % Inclusion Turkey 47.1 Duck 19.7 Turkey Liver 17.0 Chickpeas 5.0 Sweet Potato 4.1 Flaxseed 3.0 Coconut Oil 2.5 Bone Meal 0.9 Salt 0.4 Vit/Min Mix* 0.2 Tocopherols  0.1 *Proprietary Vegetable & Fruit Blend  Natural Antioxidant

TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 5 Formula Example (Beef and Chicken with Gut Health Benefits) Ingredient % Inclusion Beef 32.1 Chicken 27.0 Beef Liver 19.7 Chicken Liver 5.0 Pumpkin 5.0 Sweet Potato 3.5 Chicory Root 0.5 Flaxseed 3.0 Coconut Oil 2.5 Bone Meal 0.9 Salt 0.4 Vit/Min Mix* 0.2 Probiotics 0.1 Tocopherols  0.1 *Proprietary Vegetable & Fruit Blend  Natural Antioxidant