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December 18th, 2007
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AFB International, the maker of Optimizor®, BioFlavor®, and Enticer® brand palatants, sponsors your free copy of Petfood Industry Electronic Newsletter. AFB is the petfood industry’s first choice for dog and cat food palatants. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.afbinternational.com.
» INDUSTRY NEWS
Early-bird registration for Petfood Forum events
Take advantage of early-bird specials and register for Petfood Forum Asia, Petfood Forum 2008 and Petfood Focus on Safety by January 15, 2008, to save more than 15% off of the price. If you register for both Petfood Forum 2008 and Petfood Focus on Safety you will receive a discount of 25%.
Petfood Forum Asia takes place for the first time ever on March 5, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand, in conjunction with Victam Asia. Keynote speakers for this highly anticipated, international event include:
- Maria Trombly, Trombly Ltd. — global and Asian petfood sales trends.
- Julie Lenzer Kirk, Interstates Companies — petfood safety and traceability.
- David Southey, Southey Consultants Ltd. — advances in pet nutrition.
- Dr. Anton Beynen, Vobra — new and functional ingredients.
- Chris Nelson, Kemin — dvances in palatability.
- Brian Kim, E-mart — the future of petfood retailing.
- Will Henry, Extru-Tech — treat extrusion.
Registration for Petfood Forum Asia, Petfood Forum 2008 and Petfood Focus on Safety is now available via a new online system, accessible at:
www.petfoodindustry.com/petfoodforum.aspx.
Register today!
Register today!
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US, China sign pact on food safety
The US and Chinese governments reached a food and drug safety agreement last week that will give American inspectors access to Chinese factories while assuring Chinese manufacturers continued access to the US market. The agreement, announced by a U.S. official in Beijing, was hailed by Bush administration negotiators as a major step toward addressing the safety of imported goods. The White House can claim a political victory in the fight against tainted imports, and China can attempt a recovery from damaging publicity surrounding its products.
But critics, while praising the intent behind the agreement, said it fails to provide enough safeguards to prevent further imports of petfood ingredients blended with adulterants. "I would say it's not a strong enough signal to the Chinese," said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. "It seems to indicate that we're not all that concerned about these problems. I think the administration is underestimating the concerns of consumers and the public."
A summary of the agreement provided by the Department of Health and Human Services says the deal would initially address preserved foods; pet food and pet treats; raw materials used in making food, such as wheat and rice protein; and farm-raised fish, including shrimp and catfish. Under the new agreement, Chinese exporters to the U.S. will register with the Chinese government and agree to annual inspections by China's office of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. The HHS said in a statement that the "new certification requirement will help ensure products exported from China to the United States meet our standards." The agreement also calls for the U.S. and China to notify each other within 48 hours of learning of "the emergence of significant risk to public health relation to product safety, recalls and other situations." Finally, both sides pledged to establish a working group that will develop benchmarks with which to regulate products.
But critics, while praising the intent behind the agreement, said it fails to provide enough safeguards to prevent further imports of petfood ingredients blended with adulterants. "I would say it's not a strong enough signal to the Chinese," said Jean Halloran, director of food policy initiatives at Consumers Union. "It seems to indicate that we're not all that concerned about these problems. I think the administration is underestimating the concerns of consumers and the public."
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A summary of the agreement provided by the Department of Health and Human Services says the deal would initially address preserved foods; pet food and pet treats; raw materials used in making food, such as wheat and rice protein; and farm-raised fish, including shrimp and catfish. Under the new agreement, Chinese exporters to the U.S. will register with the Chinese government and agree to annual inspections by China's office of General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine. The HHS said in a statement that the "new certification requirement will help ensure products exported from China to the United States meet our standards." The agreement also calls for the U.S. and China to notify each other within 48 hours of learning of "the emergence of significant risk to public health relation to product safety, recalls and other situations." Finally, both sides pledged to establish a working group that will develop benchmarks with which to regulate products.
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Menu Foods says no acetaminophen in cat food
In October 2007, Menu Foods agreed to test Special Kitty cat food specifically for acetaminophen after ExperTox Analytical Laboratory detected the painkiller in a composite of three flavors – Special Kitty with beef and gravy, Special Kitty mixed grill in gravy and Special Kitty with turkey and giblets in gravy. ExperTox also found melamine in the samples, but did not detect any cyanuric acid. Menu Foods recently refuted all of the ExperTox findings regarding acetaminophen in its products on their company website.
“Earlier this year, an individual suggested that acetaminophen was present in certain products manufactured by Menu when a single private laboratory purported to find acetaminophen in products they had tested. Those suggestions and the results of that single laboratory were refuted at the time by tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at the University of California Davis (UC Davis) also found no traces of acetaminophen in the products at issue in tests commissioned by Menu.”
The statement continues – and specifically addresses ExperTox’s findings of acetaminophen in Special Kitty cat food: “The acetaminophen claims were re-cycled in October 2007 when that same private laboratory purported to find acetaminophen in another Menu-produced product that was part of the pet food recall in March 2007. Despite the previous findings and with the goal of alleviating any remaining public concern, Menu commissioned UC Davis to perform tests on the products that were the subject of the new claim. As with the prior tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and UC Davis, the most recent tests by UC Davis also found no traces of acetaminophen.”
“Earlier this year, an individual suggested that acetaminophen was present in certain products manufactured by Menu when a single private laboratory purported to find acetaminophen in products they had tested. Those suggestions and the results of that single laboratory were refuted at the time by tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory at the University of California Davis (UC Davis) also found no traces of acetaminophen in the products at issue in tests commissioned by Menu.”
The statement continues – and specifically addresses ExperTox’s findings of acetaminophen in Special Kitty cat food: “The acetaminophen claims were re-cycled in October 2007 when that same private laboratory purported to find acetaminophen in another Menu-produced product that was part of the pet food recall in March 2007. Despite the previous findings and with the goal of alleviating any remaining public concern, Menu commissioned UC Davis to perform tests on the products that were the subject of the new claim. As with the prior tests conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and UC Davis, the most recent tests by UC Davis also found no traces of acetaminophen.”
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Residents rage against petfood factory
Butchers Pet Care has recently had plans for its new Coton Meadows, Rugby, United Kingdom warehouse approved by planning officers, but the decision has been met with local outrage. The site, which has attracted hundreds of complaints from residents and businesses, needs to be rubber-stamped by councilors at a special, upcoming meeting.
However, Michael Moran, Co-Chair of the Coton Park Residents' Association, which has led protests against the plans, condemned the decision. "The council is supposed to represent the people of Rugby. So it's shocking that they have dismissed the concerns of the whole community.”
Based at Castle Mound Way in Central Park, the building has created huge publicity since plans were first revealed earlier this year. Open 24/7 and measuring almost 15,000 sq.ft., the factory will help produce the company's range of petfood products.
The site will include a 100 foot high chimney clearly visible from the site in most directions across Rugby. The council has received more than 700 complaints from residents opposing the plans, citing various fears over odors, emissions and potential environmental harm to the town. Councilors and other business groups have also objected, while prestigious businesses in the area said they would consider leaving if the factory was built.
However, Sean Lawson, Head of Environmental Services with Rugby Borough Council, has claimed any emissions are 'within acceptable standards' and 'unlikely' to be detrimental to health. Butchers say they will continue to work alongside residents throughout the process and will continually monitor the factory.
However, Michael Moran, Co-Chair of the Coton Park Residents' Association, which has led protests against the plans, condemned the decision. "The council is supposed to represent the people of Rugby. So it's shocking that they have dismissed the concerns of the whole community.”
Based at Castle Mound Way in Central Park, the building has created huge publicity since plans were first revealed earlier this year. Open 24/7 and measuring almost 15,000 sq.ft., the factory will help produce the company's range of petfood products.
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The site will include a 100 foot high chimney clearly visible from the site in most directions across Rugby. The council has received more than 700 complaints from residents opposing the plans, citing various fears over odors, emissions and potential environmental harm to the town. Councilors and other business groups have also objected, while prestigious businesses in the area said they would consider leaving if the factory was built.
However, Sean Lawson, Head of Environmental Services with Rugby Borough Council, has claimed any emissions are 'within acceptable standards' and 'unlikely' to be detrimental to health. Butchers say they will continue to work alongside residents throughout the process and will continually monitor the factory.
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ASAVA warns consumers of chemical
The Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association (ASAVA) has warned Australian pet owners to only buy meat for pets which is fit for human consumption. A potentially fatal additive is used in fresh pet meats which the ASAVA wants to see banned. The meat contains sulphur dioxide, the same chemical butchers are banned from using to extend the shelf-life of meats. The preservative keeps meat fresh, but in high levels can deplete vitamin B1, causing lethargy, rashes, loss of weight, wobbliness, seizures and even death. ASAVA president Dr. Matthew Retchford had this to say to consumers, “Buy meat you would eat yourself or bring in a sample of the food you are buying and veterinarians can test for sulphur dioxide.” A Pet Food Industry Association of Australia spokesman had this to say about the chemical: “Preservatives, when used, are added at very low levels in the product. Preservatives are available in varying forms.”
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Green packaging: pouches or cans?
Many items, such as wet petfoods, sold only in cans are now available in pouches. Food pouches, which are made from a combination of food-grade aluminum foil, plastic and adhesives, appear to have some front-end environmental advantages over the cans that they are increasingly replacing on supermarket shelves. Pouches, however, are not as easily recycled.
Food pouches take up far less space and weight and are simpler to manufacture than tin-coated steel cans. Flexible-packaging manufacturer Kapak Corp. reports that one truckload of the pouches it makes has the same holding capacity as 25 truckloads of traditional rigid containers and saves as much as 96% in warehouse storage space. The company also says pouches require 75% less energy than cans to manufacture, and that they reduce the amount of source materials needed to make cans by a factor of 25 to 1.
Whiskas cat food pouches require 30% less retorting time than the 10-ounce steel cans they replaced because pouches can be heated more evenly and quickly. "That translates directly into reduced energy use for the retorting process and probably into a decrease in the amount of cooling water required as well," Anthony Andrady, author of Plastics and the Environment, says.
On the down side, most of these pouches are destined for the landfill once they are empty because their multimaterial construction makes them difficult to recycle. Some manufacturers, such as Flex Products, are working on variations that are less complex and more recyclable than what's on supermarket shelves, but such products may be years away from widespread adoption.
These results suggest that dog foods containing blends of fermentable and nonfermentable carbohydrates produce similar physiological results as dog food containing beet pulp as a fiber source. Therefore, blends of these carbohydrates could be useful substitutes for beet pulp in dog foods.
Source: I. S. Middelbos, et al, J Anim Sci 85: 3033-3044.
Company Description:
Cady Bag Co.,LLC is a family owned business that started in 1957 and is vertically integrated in the manufacturing of woven polypropylene for flexible packaging, mainly for agricultural and industrial applications. Cady has plans to enter the petfood industry by mid 2008.
SPF North America, Inc., the worldwide leader of palatability solutions for the pet food industry is seeking a MARKETING MANAGER. Primary responsibilities will be management of projects related to product development, range management, market intelligence and communication. Qualifications include a minimum of B.S. in chemistry, animal science, biological science or biochemistry and minimum of five years experience as project manager. Experience in pet food field and/or companion animal business is preferred. Submit your resume, with salary requirements, to HR Manager at jgehler@spf-usa.com.
Food pouches take up far less space and weight and are simpler to manufacture than tin-coated steel cans. Flexible-packaging manufacturer Kapak Corp. reports that one truckload of the pouches it makes has the same holding capacity as 25 truckloads of traditional rigid containers and saves as much as 96% in warehouse storage space. The company also says pouches require 75% less energy than cans to manufacture, and that they reduce the amount of source materials needed to make cans by a factor of 25 to 1.
Whiskas cat food pouches require 30% less retorting time than the 10-ounce steel cans they replaced because pouches can be heated more evenly and quickly. "That translates directly into reduced energy use for the retorting process and probably into a decrease in the amount of cooling water required as well," Anthony Andrady, author of Plastics and the Environment, says.
On the down side, most of these pouches are destined for the landfill once they are empty because their multimaterial construction makes them difficult to recycle. Some manufacturers, such as Flex Products, are working on variations that are less complex and more recyclable than what's on supermarket shelves, but such products may be years away from widespread adoption.
SPONSOR
» MARKET DATA
Each month the Petfood Industry E-newsletter will bring you the latest market data available from several different sources including Euromonitor International, Packaged Facts, Information Resources Inc. (IRI) and ACNielsen.
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According to Euromonitor International, the pet population in Morocco has grown 3% in the past five years. Growth is driven largely by middle and upper-income families, particularly in urban locations, becoming increasingly aware of and adopting Western lifestyle habits, such as pet ownership. Pet ownership is also seen as a way of showing one’s class and status.
Moroccans are not only limited to large dogs kept as guards, but the growing middle and upper-income households keep dogs as companions. With the expanding group of more affluent pet owners, this will continue to give players the opportunity to target them with premium brands. Premium dry food is forecast to show the highest volume growth of all dog food over the next five years. Pet care products are also likely to see higher growth as new owners will be more aware of pet health issues and will visit vets more regularly.
For more information about Petfood and Pet Care Product reports from Euromonitor International and to buy reports online, visit:
http://www.euromonitor.com/Pet_Food_And_Pet_Care_Products?DCMP=AFC-petfoodemail
The results of this new study imply that vitamin A cannot substitute for all physiological functions of the pro-vitamin. This finding positions ß-carotene in close relation to other essential food ingredients, i.e., vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Considering the additional health effects of ß-carotene described in this study, an increased consumption of β-carotene-rich food may contribute to lower the burden of chronic diseases encountered in both industrialized and developing countries.
Source: S. Hessel, et al, 2007. J Biol Chem, Vol. 282, Issue 46, 33553-33561.
Moroccans are not only limited to large dogs kept as guards, but the growing middle and upper-income households keep dogs as companions. With the expanding group of more affluent pet owners, this will continue to give players the opportunity to target them with premium brands. Premium dry food is forecast to show the highest volume growth of all dog food over the next five years. Pet care products are also likely to see higher growth as new owners will be more aware of pet health issues and will visit vets more regularly.
For more information about Petfood and Pet Care Product reports from Euromonitor International and to buy reports online, visit:
http://www.euromonitor.com/Pet_Food_And_Pet_Care_Products?DCMP=AFC-petfoodemail
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» PRODUCT NEWS
Flavorseal vacuum pouches
Clear Flavorseal non-shrink vacuum pouches from CMS can be tailored to meet specific requirements by offering color printing, high-barrier supermarket, boilable/zip-lock and gold foil-backed pouches. Made of a nylon/polyethylene blend, Flavorseal vacuum pouches are stocked at a full 3 mils, but are available in custom sizes and gauges from 2 to 8 mils. All pouches can be printed with logos, consumer information and storage instructions. www.cmsflavorseal.com
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Quality Management and HACCP
Quality Management from CSB-System International is a fully integrated feature that complies with industry standards for HACCP, ISO 9001:2000 and IFS. The QM and HACCP module is integrated into existing CSB material management systems and ensures that all tests can be recorded in process and that proper action is initiated instantly as the results are processed. In extended options, manufacturers can use the results to adjust recipes based on raw material potential. www.csb-system.com
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Extruders offer high SME ratings
With maximum speeds of up to 1,200 rpm and power levels to 165 kWhr/t SME at volumetric capacity, the Wenger Magnum ST twin screw extruders meet a wide range of operating parameters, according to the company. Available in four sizes, configurations can be built to include new shear and kneading elements for precise control of product shape, texture, density and cooking time. To customize product requirements special options include: Wenger’s patented DDC preconditioner, mid barrel and back pressure valves, an external density management system, overhead rail system and a manual or automatic control system. www.wenger.com
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Three-Robot Paloma from Doboy
Doboy, a Bosch Packaging Technology company, has released the Paloma Top Loader, equipped with three delta robotic arms for automated pick-and-place operations for petfood packaging. The Paloma features vacuum cup end-effectors with six circular suction cups designed to pick up different goods, including delicate food product, according to the company. With three robots in one cell, line speeds can reach up to 240 products per minute. www.doboy.com
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» RESEARCH NEWS
ß-carotene helps lipid metabolism
According to a study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, an increased consumption of β-carotene-rich foods may contribute to decreasing the risk of chronic diseases. A research collaboration team from DSM Nutritional Products and the Albert-Ludwigs-University of Freiburg, Germany published these novel findings about β-carotene functions. This micronutrient is a major dietary precursor (pro-vitamin) of vitamin A, which is essential for gene regulation and vision.
For vitamin A production, β-carotene must be cleaved into the real vitamin. For the first time, researchers established a genetically modified mouse by knocking out the gene responsible for the pro-vitamin A cleaving enzyme. As expected, mice lacking the pro-vitamin-cleaving enzyme became vitamin A-deficient and accumulated β-carotene in several tissues. More surprisingly, these mice also showed characteristic changes in blood lipid levels and developed fatty liver. Feeding preformed vitamin A prevented vitamin A-deficiency in these mice, but not the disturbances in lipid metabolism. Furthermore, even when vitamin A was available with the diet, the genetically modified mice were more susceptible to obesity.
These findings may have some significant public health implications. Carotenoids such as ß-carotene are not only important for well known vitamin A-dependent processes such as vision, but may also be beneficial for additional health aspects. Disturbances in lipid metabolism, as found in this mouse mutant, are causally linked to cardiovascular and liver disease. Such secondary disorders are prevalent in the increasing number of obese patients worldwide.
For vitamin A production, β-carotene must be cleaved into the real vitamin. For the first time, researchers established a genetically modified mouse by knocking out the gene responsible for the pro-vitamin A cleaving enzyme. As expected, mice lacking the pro-vitamin-cleaving enzyme became vitamin A-deficient and accumulated β-carotene in several tissues. More surprisingly, these mice also showed characteristic changes in blood lipid levels and developed fatty liver. Feeding preformed vitamin A prevented vitamin A-deficiency in these mice, but not the disturbances in lipid metabolism. Furthermore, even when vitamin A was available with the diet, the genetically modified mice were more susceptible to obesity.
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The results of this new study imply that vitamin A cannot substitute for all physiological functions of the pro-vitamin. This finding positions ß-carotene in close relation to other essential food ingredients, i.e., vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Considering the additional health effects of ß-carotene described in this study, an increased consumption of β-carotene-rich food may contribute to lower the burden of chronic diseases encountered in both industrialized and developing countries.
Source: S. Hessel, et al, 2007. J Biol Chem, Vol. 282, Issue 46, 33553-33561.
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Substitutes for beet pulp
Blends of fermentable oligosaccharides in combination with nonfermentable fiber, cellulose, were evaluated for their ability to serve as dietary fibers in dog foods. Six diets were evaluated that contained either no supplemental fiber, beet pulp, cellulose or blends of cellulose, fructooligosaccharides and yeast cell wall added at 2.5% of the diet. Six ileal-cannulated dogs were fed 175 g of their assigned diet twice daily. Chromic oxide served as a digestibility marker. Nutrient digestibility, fecal microbial populations, fermentative end products, and immunological indices were measured.
Total tract dry matter and organic matter digestibilities were lowest for the cellulose treatment. Crude protein digestibility was lower for the treatments containing carbohydrate blends. The cellulose treatment had the lowest concentration of bacteria, and all diets containing fermentable fiber had greater fecal bifidobacteria concentrations compared with the diets without supplemental fermentable fiber. Lactobacilli concentrations tended to be greater in treatments containing fermentable fiber compared with the cellulose treatment.
Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli concentrations were similar for the beet pulp treatment compared with the fermentable oligosaccharide blends. Total fecal short-chain fatty acid concentration was greater for the beet pulp treatment compared with the control and cellulose treatments. The treatments containing fermentable fiber had greater fecal butyrate concentrations compared with cellulose and control treatments. Immune indices were not affected by treatment.
Total tract dry matter and organic matter digestibilities were lowest for the cellulose treatment. Crude protein digestibility was lower for the treatments containing carbohydrate blends. The cellulose treatment had the lowest concentration of bacteria, and all diets containing fermentable fiber had greater fecal bifidobacteria concentrations compared with the diets without supplemental fermentable fiber. Lactobacilli concentrations tended to be greater in treatments containing fermentable fiber compared with the cellulose treatment.
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These results suggest that dog foods containing blends of fermentable and nonfermentable carbohydrates produce similar physiological results as dog food containing beet pulp as a fiber source. Therefore, blends of these carbohydrates could be useful substitutes for beet pulp in dog foods.
Source: I. S. Middelbos, et al, J Anim Sci 85: 3033-3044.
ADVERTISEMENT
» POSITIONS AVAILABLE
Company Description:
Cady Bag Co.,LLC is a family owned business that started in 1957 and is vertically integrated in the manufacturing of woven polypropylene for flexible packaging, mainly for agricultural and industrial applications. Cady has plans to enter the petfood industry by mid 2008.
Position Description / Qualifications:
- Market Manager/Sales Rep self-motivated person
- Person to get involved on ground floor of marketing Cady’s products
- Salary plus commissions with benefits
- Sales rep with 3 plus years experience selling to pet food manufactures
- College a plus but not required
- Can work from home but close to major airport
- Willing to travel as needed and has good transportation
Send resume with salary requirements to:
Cady Bag Co., LLC
P.O. Box 68
Pearson, GA 31642
Attn: William or william@cadybag.com
Marketing Manager for SPF
SPF North America, Inc., the worldwide leader of palatability solutions for the pet food industry is seeking a MARKETING MANAGER. Primary responsibilities will be management of projects related to product development, range management, market intelligence and communication. Qualifications include a minimum of B.S. in chemistry, animal science, biological science or biochemistry and minimum of five years experience as project manager. Experience in pet food field and/or companion animal business is preferred. Submit your resume, with salary requirements, to HR Manager at jgehler@spf-usa.com.
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» CONTACT INFO
To submit any information you would like us to consider for publication on our website, in the printed magazine, or in this newsletter, E-mail your information to Jessica Taylor Bond, jbond@wattnet.net.
Have questions or comments about what you’ve just read? E-mail the editor at editor@petfoodindustry.com or post your thoughts on the Petfood Industry discussion forums online at www.petfoodindustry.com.
We are always interested in hearing your ideas about the value of this newsletter, or whether you have any problems downloading or viewing this document. If you would like to discontinue your free subscription to this newsletter, or if you have additional E-mail addresses to add or remove from our subscriber list, please contact Petfoodindustry@wattnet.com.
Have questions or comments about what you’ve just read? E-mail the editor at editor@petfoodindustry.com or post your thoughts on the Petfood Industry discussion forums online at www.petfoodindustry.com.
We are always interested in hearing your ideas about the value of this newsletter, or whether you have any problems downloading or viewing this document. If you would like to discontinue your free subscription to this newsletter, or if you have additional E-mail addresses to add or remove from our subscriber list, please contact Petfoodindustry@wattnet.com.
» CALENDAR
AFB International, the maker of Optimizor®, BioFlavor®, and Enticer® brand palatants, sponsors your free copy of Petfood Industry Electronic Newsletter. AFB is the petfood industry’s first choice for dog and cat food palatants. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.afbinternational.com.
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©2007 All rights reserved.
303 N. Main Street, Rockford, IL 61101 USA
©2007 All rights reserved.