The principles behind Pet Food Safety and Quality are very strict. These principles are based on controlling moisture, controlling water activity, and inadvertently adding toxicants. You can learn more about these topics in this article. You can also learn more about the environmental monitoring and Critical Control Points that go into the production of Pet Foods. These guidelines help you ensure the safety and quality of your pet’s diet. So, if you are looking for a High quality pet food, you can rest assured that it is safe and nutritious for your beloved pet.
Principles of food safety and quality
Food safety and quality for pets are paramount, as food contaminated with infectious agents can harm humans and their pets. Industry-wide best practices minimize chemical, physical, and biological hazards to ensure the safety of pet food. Properly sourced ingredients also play a significant role in the safety of pet food. Listed below are some of these principles. When it comes to food safety, it’s essential to follow best practices, including the following:
Controlling moisture
Properly controlling moisture is critical for the production of quality pet food. If moisture levels are out of balance, mold and bacteria will flourish, reducing the quality of the final product. To achieve the best results from gravimetric drying, control the moisture content of the product. Using a NIST traceable standard, the moisture content of the finished product should be stable and fixed. Improper moisture content can negatively affect the production process, waste, and end product.
Water activity
One of the most important aspects of pet food safety and quality is its water activity. A low water activity food has a long shelf life but is not without risk. Changes in water activity can change the texture of the food and alter its structure. The ideal range for water activity is 0.85. Foods that are less than 0.85 are not considered hazardous by regulatory agencies. However, some foods are not formulated according to this standard.
Also Read : Pet Food Nutrition – A Guide For Pet Owners
Inadvertently added toxicants
Since 1996, there have been 22 recalls of class I and II pet foods. Of these recalls, six were caused by chemical adulterants. These chemicals included aflatoxins, cholecalciferol, methionine, cyanuric acid, and melamine. These adulterations can be caused by inadequate testing of raw materials, improper mixing equipment of raw materials. However, most pet food produced in the USA is safe. This fact is reflected in the relatively low incidence of illness caused by adulteration.
Feeding trials
When it comes to testing the safety and quality of a new pet food, feeding trials are an important part of the process. These tests take place on purposely bred animals, which are relatively calm and are kept in a lab environment. This ensures that the food is safe to feed. However, feeding trials do have limitations, as they only test a small sample of the food. As a result, they cannot account for all the factors that affect the quality and safety of food.
Sorting technology
With a new digital sorting solution, manufacturers can easily identify foreign materials and product defects, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination and improving product quality while reducing labor costs. Manufacturers can install VERYX sorters near raw receiving areas, and customize the equipment for various pet food formats. With a high-speed inspection process, the system is capable of inspecting ingredients from a range of products.
