ANIMAL FOOD AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME

1 . An animal food comprising:

a source of starch;

a source of protein;

a source of fat;

distilled mono-glycerides; and

a polyol other than distilled mono-glycerides,

wherein the animal food has a springiness of from 0.6 to 1.0, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.6, and a hardness of from 50 to 100 grams.

2 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the water activity of the food is from 0.5 to 0.7.

3 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the source of starch comprises wheat flour in an amount of from 20% to 65% and soy flour in an amount of from 5% to 25%.

4 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the source of fat is present in the animal food in an amount of 1% to 15%.

5 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the polyol comprises glycerin in an amount of from 5% to 35%; high fructose corn syrup in an amount from 3% to 25%; and propylene glycol in an amount of from 1% to 15%.

6 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the animal food comprises sulfur in an amount less than 1%.

7 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the animal food comprises:

20% to 65% wheat flour;

5% to 25% soy flour;

3% to 25% high fructose corn syrup;

1% to 15% wheat gluten;

1% to 15% fat;

5% to 35% glycerin;

1% to 15% propylene glycol;

0.2% to 0.7% distilled mono-glycerides; and

sulfur in an amount less than 0.1%.

8 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the density of the animal food is from 300 to 500 kg/m 3 .

9 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the fiber content of the animal food is from 0.5% to 1%.

10 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein an internal structure of the animal food is a foam-like structure comprising a radially expanded, continuous matrix of voids.

11 . The animal food according to claim 1 , wherein the animal food is fresh animal food.

12 . The animal food according to claim 11 , wherein, when the animal food is aged, the animal food has a springiness of from 0.5 to 0.95, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.4, and a hardness of from 50 to 300 grams.

13 . An animal food comprising:

wheat flour;

soy flour;

high fructose corn syrup;

wheat gluten;

fat;

glycerin;

propylene glycol; and

distilled mono-glycerides.

14 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein the animal food comprises:

20% to 65% wheat flour;

5% to 25% soy flour;

3% to 25% high fructose corn syrup;

1% to 15% wheat gluten;

1% to 15% fat;

5% to 35% glycerin;

1% to 15% propylene glycol;

0.2% to 0.7% distilled mono-glycerides; and

sulfur in an amount less than 0.1%.

15 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein

the animal food has a springiness of from 0.6 to 1.0, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.6, and a hardness of from 50 to 100 grams, and

a water activity of the animal food is from 0.5 to 0.7.

16 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein the density of the animal food is from 300 to 500 kg/m 3 .

17 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein the fiber content of the animal food is from 0.5% to 1%.

18 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein an internal structure of the animal food is a foam-like structure comprising a radially expanded, continuous matrix of voids.

19 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein the animal food is fresh animal food.

20 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein, when the animal food is aged, the animal food has a springiness of from 0.5 to 0.95, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.4, and a hardness of from 50 to 300 grams.

21 . The animal food according to claim 13 , wherein the animal food comprises:

35% to 45% wheat flour;

15% to 25% glycerin;

8% to 15% soy flour;

8% to 15% high fructose corn syrup;

4% to 8% propylene glycol;

1% to 5% wheat gluten;

4% to 8% poultry fat;

0.2% to 0.6 distilled mono-glycerides;

0.01% to 0.05% sulfur;

1% to 4% minerals, colorants, and vitamins; and

1% to 3% process water.

22 . A method for producing an animal food comprising:

feeding a primary mixture into an extruder, the primary mixture comprising a source of starch, a source of protein, a source of fat, distilled mono-glycerides, and a polyol other than distilled mono-glycerides;

heating the primary mixture in the extruder;

extruding the heated mixture from the extruder to form an extruded product; and

collecting the extruded product after it exits the extruder;

wherein the extruded product has a springiness of from 0.6 to 1.0, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.6, and a hardness of from 50 to 100 grams.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein, in the extruder, the primary mixture is heated to a temperature of 80° C. or greater.

24 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the extruded product expands as it exits the extruder as a result of a pressure drop.

25 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the primary mixture comprises wheat flour, glycerin, soy flour, high fructose corn syrup, propylene glycol, wheat gluten, fat, and distilled mono-glycerides.

26 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the primary mixture comprises:

20% to 65% wheat flour;

5% to 25% soy flour;

3% to 25% high fructose corn syrup;

1% to 15% wheat gluten;

1% to 15% poultry fat;

5% to 35% glycerin;

1% to 15% propylene glycol;

0.2% to 0.7% distilled mono-glycerides; and

sulfur in an amount less than 0.1%.

27 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the density of the animal food is from 300 to 500 kg/m 3 .

28 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein the fiber content of the animal food is from 0.5% to 1%.

29 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein an internal structure of the extruded product is a foam-like structure comprising a radially expanded, continuous matrix of voids.

30 . The animal food according to claim 22 , wherein, when the extruded product is aged, the extruded product has a springiness of from 0.5 to 0.95, a resilience of from 0.1 to 0.4, and a hardness of from 50 to 300 grams.