Treats and methods for producing same
View Patent ↗Treats have a water activity of less than 0.5 and good organoleptic properties. A method for obtaining such treats having low water activity involves injection molding a dough made from a polyol and at least one of a source of casein and a source of starch.
1. A pet treat formed by:
preparing a dough in a mixer, the dough comprising
a polyol, and
at least one member selected from the group consisting of a source of casein and a source of starch; and
injection molding the dough by injecting the dough from an injection barrel into a mold to form said treat, the pet treat having a water activity of from 0.24 to 0.34,
wherein a temperature of the dough in the barrel reaches temperatures greater than 82° C.
2. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the polyol is at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, and solid polyol.
3. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the source of casein is present and is at least one member selected from the group consisting of caseinate, milk powder, cheese powder, milk concentrate, milk isolate, evaporated milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and mixtures thereof.
4. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the source of starch is present and is at least one member selected from the group consisting of flour and finely ground grain.
5. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the pet treat comprises:
(a) 5 to 40 wt. % milk power, cheese powder, milk concentrate, milk isolate, evaporated milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, or mixtures thereof;
(b) 35 to 60 wt. % flour;
(c) 5 to 55 wt. % polyol;
(d) 0 to 10 wt. % fat(s); and
(e) 0 to 40 wt. % additive.
6. The pet treat of claim 5 , wherein at least one said additive is present and comprises at least one additive that is stable at water content of from 3 to 15% and a temperature greater than 82° C.
7. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of fruits and vegetables.
8. The pet treat of claim 5 , wherein at least one said fat is present and comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of vegetable oil, medium chain triglycerides, and animal fat.
9. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the pet treat comprises 8 to 50 wt. % glycerin.
10. A pet treat formed by:
preparing a dough in a mixer, the dough comprising
a polyol, and
at least one member selected from the group consisting of a source of casein and a source of starch; and
injection molding the dough by injecting the dough from an injection barrel into a mold to form said treat, the treat having a water activity of from 0.24 to 0.34,
wherein a temperature of the dough in the barrel does not exceed 55° C.
11. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the water activity is less than 0.3.
12. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the polyol comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycerin and propylene glycol.
13. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the source of starch is present and is at least one member selected from the group consisting of flour and pre-gelatinized starch.
14. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the source of casein is present and comprises sodium caseinate.
15. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the pet treat further comprises at least one nutraceutical.
16. The pet treat of claim 15 , wherein said nutraceutical is at least one member selected from the group consisting of probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, pre-biotics, glucosamine and chondroitin.
17. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the pet treat comprises:
(a) 25 to 70 wt. % pre-gelatinized starch;
(b) 5 to 55 wt. % polyol;
(c) 5 to 40 wt. % spray dried protein;
(d) 0 to 10 wt. % fat(s); and
(e) 0 to 40 wt. % additive.
18. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the pet treat comprises 8 to 50 wt. % glycerin.
19. The pet treat of claim 10 , wherein the pet treat comprises 8 to 50 wt. % propylene glycol.
20. A treat comprising:
a polyol;
at least one member selected from the group consisting of a source of casein and a source of starch; and
3 to 15 wt. % water,
the treat having a water activity from 0.24 to 0.34.
21. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the polyol is at least one member selected from the group consisting of glycerin, solid polyol and propylene glycol.
22. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the source of casein is present and is at least one member selected from the group consisting of caseinate, milk powder, cheese powder, milk concentrate, milk isolate, evaporated milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, and mixtures thereof.
23. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the source of casein is present and comprises sodium caseinate.
24. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the source of starch is present and is at least one member selected from the group consisting of flour, finely ground grain, and pre-gelatinized starch.
25. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the pet treat further comprises at least one nutraceutical.
26. The treat of claim 25 , wherein said nutraceutical is at least one member selected from the group consisting of probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins, pre-biotics, glucosamine and chondroitin.
27. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the pet treat comprises:
(a) 5 to 40 wt. % milk powder, cheese powder, milk concentrate, milk isolate, evaporated milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, or mixtures thereof;
(b) 35 to 60 wt. % flour;
(c) 5 to 55 wt. % polyol;
(d) 0 to 10 wt. % fat(s); and
(e) 0 to 40 wt. % additive.
28. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the pet treat comprises:
(a) 25 to 70 wt. % pre-gelatinized starch;
(b) 5% to 55 wt. % polyol;
(c) 5 to 40 wt. % spray dried protein;
(d) 0 to 10 wt. % fat(s); and
(e) 0 to 40 wt. % additive.
29. The treat of claim 28 , wherein at least one said additive is present and comprises at least one additive that is stable at a water content of from 3 to 15% and a temperature that does not exceed 55° C.
30. The treat of claim 29 , wherein the additive comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of natural colorants, fruit, vegetable, protein, pre-biotics, calcium stearate, enzymes, spray dried protein, and palatants.
31. The treat of claim 28 , wherein the fat is present and comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of corn oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, medium chain triglycerides and animal fat.
32. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the pet treat comprises 8 to 50 wt. % glycerin.
33. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the pet treat comprises 8 to 50 wt. % propylene glycol.
34. A treat comprising:
a polyol;
a source of starch present in an amount of from 35 to 60%; and
a source of casein,
the treat having a water activity of from 0.24 to 0.34 and a fat content of from 0 to 10%.
35. The treat of claim 34 , wherein the water activity is less than 0.3.
36. The pet treat of claim 1 , wherein the source of casein is a dried yogurt.
37. The treat of claim 5 , wherein the yogurt is a dried yogurt.
38. The treat of claim 20 , wherein the source of casein is a dried yogurt.
39. The treat of claim 27 , wherein the yogurt is a dried yogurt.
40. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive is a protein.
41. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive is a palatant.
42. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive is calcium stearate.
43. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive is a pre-biotic.
44. The pet treat of claim 6 , wherein the additive is an enzyme.
45. The pet treat of claim 8 , wherein at least one said fat is vegetable oil and the vegetable oil is corn oil or soybean oil.
46. The treat of claim 34 , wherein the fat content is from 0 to 8%.