DE202022106874U1 - Wet food product and apparatus for its manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

Wet food product for animals, especially pets, manufactured by:
- Mixing solid animal feed components (116) with a sauce (124) or sauce components in a temperature-controlled process reactor (102), and
- sterilizing the mixture by heat treatment in the process reactor (102).

Description

The present invention relates to a wet food product and a device for its manufacture.

In conventional wet pet food technology, the production of chunky wet food involves a number of independent process steps. First, the meat components are chopped up, emulsified and partly cooked into chunks of meat in a steam tunnel. The animal feed sauce is prepared separately in a mixer. In a final step, the two pet food components (pieces of meat and sauce) are mixed and filled into retort-stable packaging and sterilized in an autoclave. The vegan or vegetarian wet pet food products available on the market are made in a similar way. All of these steps, which are carried out independently of one another, are labor- and time-intensive and have a high impact on the environment (consumption of gas, electricity or oil, water).

The US2020/0229460A1 discloses a complete pet food incorporating meaty chunks. The chunks are made from a mixture or emulsion of meat meal, water, dry and liquid ingredients, which is staged, but not necessarily cooked, under pressure conveyance in multiple scraped surface heat exchangers, then optionally cooked using a steam tunnel, and then comminuted. The chunks are then mixed with visible feed ingredients and portioned into containers. After adding a sauce, the containers are sealed under a modified atmosphere and then fed into an autoclave where they remain at typically 30 psi (approx. 2 bar) and 251°F (121.7°C) for 70-79 minutes and after cooling to below 110 °F (approx. 43°C) can be taken.

The EP 1 918 670 A1 discloses a scraped surface heat exchanger for treating food and liquids, with particular focus on the thermal treatment of food products such as fruit, vegetables, legumes, rice, soup, meat. The product passes through several chambers in which separate scrapers rotate. The temperature is controlled by a circulating heat transfer fluid via the partitions that delimit the chambers.

The EP 1 775 542 A1 relates to a scraped surface heat exchanger and a method for producing microparticulate whey protein concentrate as a fat substitute for low-fat products. The wear and tear on the scraper and the scraping surface is to be reduced by means of a special structural design.

The US 9,615,593 B2 discloses methods and apparatus for thermally treating flowable biomaterials using microwave radiation for sterilization or pasteurization. The product runs through a pipe system in continuous pump delivery through several stages of irradiation in pipe sections that are transparent to microwaves and mixing for heat equalization and is packaged sterile after it has calmed down and cooled down.

It is therefore the object of the invention to solve the problems in the prior art without sacrificing quality, palatability and hygiene. In particular, it is the object of the invention to provide a wet feed product which is of high quality, tasty and hygienically safe and the production of which requires little labor and time and is environmentally unfriendly, and a corresponding device for the production of a wet feed product.

The object is achieved according to the invention, at least in partial aspects, by a wet food product according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 19. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and in the description.

• Mischen fester Tiernahrungskomponenten mit einer Soße oder Soßenkomponenten in einem temperierbaren Prozessreaktor, und
• Sterilisieren der Mischung durch Wärmebehandlung in dem Prozessreaktor.

The invention is based on the idea of producing a wet food product for animals, in particular pets, using a novel method which is not claimed as such in the present utility model and has the following steps:

• Mixing solid animal feed components with a sauce or sauce components in a temperature-controlled process reactor, and
• Sterilizing the mixture by heat treatment in the process reactor.

Within the meaning of the invention, sterilization is understood to mean a heat treatment that makes the wet feed product technically sterile. Technical freedom from germs can, but does not have to be, absolute freedom from germs in the sense that not a single active germ is present, but means freedom from germs for a specified period of time (minimum shelf life, for example 6 or 12 or 18 or 24 months) under specified Storage conditions ensure safe consumption with a sufficient degree of probability. Technical freedom from germs can be given, for example, by an F value of LOG4, which means that 99.99% of all germs originally present in a sample have been inactivated. Mixing is understood to mean any degree of mixing. The mixing and the sterilizing are not particularly as separate, sequential to understand processes. Rather, the mixing and the sterilization or the heat treatment in the process reactor can take place simultaneously. By combining the steps of mixing and sterilization in a temperature-controlled process reactor, the manufacturing process for a wet food product can be significantly simplified, shortened and optimized in terms of energy and with regard to the preservation of nutrients, in particular vital substances, and the preservation of flavorings, since the autoclaving of the finished bottled product omitted. In particular, the sterilization process itself can be significantly shortened, since it takes place directly on the product in the process reactor and not after filling. This also simplifies a subsequent filling process. Traditionally, the sauce is only added to the solid ingredients during bottling, which requires (at least) two bottling stages. If the animal feed product according to the invention comes as a finished mixture from the process reactor, the filling process can be designed in one stage and continuously.

Accordingly, one aspect of the invention relates to a wet food product for animals, particularly pets, made by the above process.

The wet food product has the advantages of the method described above, it is therefore also characterized by improved nutritional content and taste, it can also be cheaper and have an improved energy balance.

• einen Prozessreaktor,
• einer Zuführeinrichtung zum Zuführen fester Tiernahrungskomponenten und einer Soße oder Soßenkomponenten in den Prozessreaktor,
• eine Temperiereinrichtung, die zum Temperieren des Prozessreaktors, insbesondere von Wänden des Prozessreaktors, ausgebildet ist,
• eine Mischeinrichtung, die zum Mischen der im Prozessreaktor befindlichen Komponenten eingerichtet ist, und
• eine Steuereinrichtung, welche zum Steuern der Mischeinrichtung, um die Komponenten in dem Prozessreaktor zu vermischen, und zum Steuern der Temperiereinrichtung, um die Komponenten oder die Mischung in dem Prozessreaktor durch Wärmebehandlung zu sterilisieren, ausgebildet und konfiguriert ist.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a device for producing a wet food product for animals, in particular pets, the device having:

• a process reactor,
• a feed device for feeding solid animal feed components and a sauce or sauce components into the process reactor,
• a temperature control device that is designed to control the temperature of the process reactor, in particular walls of the process reactor,
• a mixing device which is set up for mixing the components located in the process reactor, and
• a control device which is designed and configured to control the mixing device in order to mix the components in the process reactor and to control the temperature control device in order to sterilize the components or the mixture in the process reactor by heat treatment.

Such a device can enable a wet food product with the above-mentioned advantages in terms of product quality and process efficiency.

The temperature of the process reactor can be controlled using heating plates. Accordingly, the temperature control device in the device can have heating plates. The heating plates can be part of the process reactor. The temperature control via heating plates is structurally particularly simple and easy to control. Furthermore, the heat treatment can act particularly directly on the mixture. As a result, heating phases can be shortened and the sterilization temperature can be maintained reliably and with little energy consumption. The nutritional value, taste, hygiene and energy balance of the product can be further improved and the costs reduced. Alternatively, the temperature can also be controlled using indirect or direct steam.

If the process reactor is a scraped surface heat exchanger, adhesion and/or overheating of the mixture or its components on the reactor walls can be prevented or limited since the walls are always scraped off by movable, preferably rotating, scrapers. The material in a scraped surface heat exchanger is also continuously mixed by the scraper. In conventional applications, this property of a scraped surface heat exchanger is also used for temperature equalization in a material that is only heated via the reactor walls, which is also used in connection with the present invention. In addition, this property is also used within the meaning of the concept of the invention in order to mix the wet feed components and thus to produce an animal feed mixture which already contains the sauce. This can facilitate the provision of an already sterilized animal feed mixture and further contribute to the mentioned advantages in terms of product quality and process efficiency. The use of a scraped surface heat exchanger is therefore particularly advantageous in connection with the present invention.

As part of the method not claimed as such here, aseptic filling of the sterilized mixture into sterile containers is preferably provided. A sterile sealing of the sterile containers after filling can also be provided. The sealing may include a detectable ultrasonic seal. As a result, a continuous aseptic treatment of the mixture that has been sterilized in the process reactor can be guaranteed right through to filling. In this way, contamination by germs before filling can be avoided. This also ensures that there is no need to sterilize again after filling.

In other words, the wet food product can have the sterilized mixture filled into sterile containers. The sterile containers can have a seal produced in a sterile manner, in particular a detectable ultrasonic seal. Such a product is particularly safe and, since there is no need for autoclaving, it is also particularly rich in nutrients, tasty, inexpensive and energy-saving.

Accordingly, the device can have a filling station which is designed for aseptic filling of the sterilized mixture from the process reactor into sterile containers. The filling station can include a sealing unit for sterile sealing of the sterile containers after filling, preferably by means of a detectable ultrasonic seal.

The device can also have a testing unit for testing the pet food product filled and sealed in a sterile container, the testing unit being designed to test individual containers with regard to weight and/or tightness and/or seam quality. The testing unit can be integrated into the filling station or downstream of it.

The sterile containers are preferably plastic bags or tubular bags or film tubular bags or pouch bags or film bags with a stand-up base or shells. All of these types of containers are suitable for the filling described above and are also particularly light and easy to handle for the consumer. The sterile containers can, for example, have a film made of food-safe plastic such as PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC without plasticizer or with food-safe plasticizer. These materials have proven themselves for holding food. The sterile containers can also have an antimicrobial, food-safe coating. The sterile containers are preferably made at least partially, in particular completely, from recyclable material, in particular mono-PP.

The sterile containers preferably have a filling quantity of at least 20 g or at least 50 g or at least 100 g or at least 200 g or at least 400 g or at least 800 g or at least 1200 g and/or at most 5000 g or at most 3000 g or at most 2000 g or at most 1200 g of the sterilized mix up.

• - Feuchtigkeit, mindestens 60 %
• - Eiweiß, mindestens 5 %
• - Fettgehalt, mindestens 4%
• - Kohlenhydrate, mindestens 5%
• - Aschegehalt, weniger als 1,5 % und
• - Ballaststoffe, weniger als 5 %.

The wet food product may contain the following ingredients of the bottled mix:

• - Humidity, at least 60%
• - Protein, at least 5%
• - Fat content, at least 4%
• - Carbohydrates, at least 5%
• - Ash content, less than 1.5% and
• - Fiber, less than 5%.

In the wet food product, the packaged mix may be in the form of a pudding, a mousse, or solid pieces in a gravy.

The heat treatment may include heating to a sterilization temperature and holding at the sterilization temperature for a sterilization period, the sterilization temperature preferably being at least 110°C, or at least 115°C, or at least 120°C and/or at most 135°C, or at most 130°C, or at most 125°C or at most 122°C or at most 121°C and the sterilization time is preferably at most 10 minutes or at most 5 minutes or at most 3 minutes and/or preferably at least 30 seconds or at least 1 minute or at least 1.5 minutes or at least is 2 minutes. This allows the sterilization temperature to be selected at a level that ensures a hygienically sterilized wet food product, and the sterilization time can be kept short in order to minimize the impact on the nutritional content and taste of the finished wet food product. In the device, the control device can be designed and configured to control the temperature control device in such a way that the components or the mixture in the process reactor are brought to a sterilization temperature with the above-mentioned limits and are kept at the sterilization temperature for a sterilization period with the above-mentioned limits.

A pressure in the process reactor at least during the heat treatment can be at least 1 bar or at least 2 bar or at least 3 bar and/or at most 20 bar or at most 15 bar or at most 10 bar or at most 5 bar or at most 4 bar. In the device, the control device can be designed and configured to maintain a pressure in the process reactor at least during the heat treatment with the above-mentioned limits. Furthermore, the process reactor can be closed hermetically and pressure-resistant, in particular up to 1 bar or 2 bar or 3 bar or 4 bar overpressure.

As part of the method not claimed here as such, the mixture is preferably cooked in the process reactor at a cooking temperature for a cooking time prior to sterilization, the cooking temperature preferably being no more than 90°C or no more than 75°C or no more than 60°C and where the cooking time preferred wise is at most 40 minutes or at most 30 minutes or at most 20 minutes and/or preferably at least 5 minutes or at least 10 minutes or at least 15 minutes. In the context of the invention, cooking is understood to mean a heat treatment which makes the wet feed product ready for consumption in terms of taste, consistency, digestibility and/or health effect. The cooking process can contribute to reducing the germ load (pre-sterilization), and the sterilization process can contribute to the cooking process (post-cooking). Again, it is understood that the cooking and mixing can occur simultaneously. This means that the three processes of mixing, cooking and sterilizing can be carried out in one go in the same process reactor. This enables particularly efficient temperature control, short and gentle processing times and minimized use of energy. Process interruptions due to transport or production phases can be eliminated or reduced to the unavoidable level (storage reactor and reactor filling). A wet food product that has gone through this process is characterized by particularly well-preserved nutrient content, high palatability, low production costs and a good energy balance.

The mixing can take place with the addition of further liquid and/or gel-like and/or powdery and/or chunky animal food components and/or additives. The solid pet food components can be fed to the process reactor via a hopper and/or one (or more) screw conveyor. A funnel feed enables rapid filling with large quantities of filling material. A screw feeder allows continuous feeding from an airtight storage tank and can enhance automation. Furthermore, a continuous feeding of the solid animal food components and/or the sauce or the sauce components and/or other components to the process reactor from respective storage containers can be provided. The sauce or the sauce components and/or other components can be fed to the processing reactor separately from the animal feed components. Of course, certain ingredients, such as the sauce, can be put together and mixed in advance. The solid pet food components can also be mixed in advance according to the recipe. The premixed batches can then be fed to the process reactor. A suitable interaction of all these measures enables an exact and flexible dosing of the different components as well as an uncomplicated realization of individual formulations.

A wet feed product that is manufactured according to the above aspects has a high level of reproducibility with a high degree of flexibility in terms of the recipe and the individual components. The measures contribute to a high level of automation and thus to cost advantages.

In the device, the process reactor can have a hopper and/or a screw conveyor for feeding in the solid animal feed components. The process reactor can also have feed elements for feeding in further components such as further liquid and/or gel-like and/or powdery and/or chunky animal food components and/or additives during a closed state of the process reactor, in particular during an overpressure state of the process reactor. The device can also have a pre-mixing station for mixing sauce components, the pre-mixing station preferably being fluidically connected to the process reactor. The device can also have a supply storage station with storage containers for storing the solid pet food components and/or the sauce or the sauce components and/or other components. Furthermore, the device can have transport devices for continuously or discontinuously feeding the solid animal feed components and/or the sauce or the sauce components and/or other components to the process reactor from respective storage containers.

When the mixture is sterilized in the process reactor, it can be conveyed or transported to a filling station by continuous or batchwise conveying or transporting.

The sterilized mixture can be cooled in the process reactor. Cooling can be done for the purposes of subsequent handling and/or to set certain properties, such as some solidification, of the mixture. For this purpose, the control device can be designed and configured to regulate the temperature of the process reactor in such a way that a specified removal temperature or maturing temperature is reached and optionally maintained for a specified maturing period.

Additionally or alternatively, the sterilized mixture can be cooled outside of the process reactor before filling. A dedicated cooling station can be provided for this purpose, or a conveying or transport device can be designed to cool the mixture. Further cooling can be provided after filling.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following detailed Description of an embodiment of the invention, from the claims and with reference to the figures of the drawing, which shows details essential to the invention. The features shown in the drawing are presented in such a way that the special features according to the invention can be made clearly visible. The various features can each be implemented individually or in groups in any combination in variants of the invention. In the figures, the same reference symbols designate the same or corresponding elements.

• 1 ein schematisches Blockschaubild einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung eines Nassfutterprodukts gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens, das mit der Vorrichtung durchgeführt werden kann.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic block diagram of an apparatus for producing a wet food product according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a flowchart of a method that can be performed with the device.

An embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for producing a wet food product for animals, in particular pets. Such a device is in 1 shown schematically.

The device has a process reactor 102 . The process reactor 102 can be temperature-controlled. One or more heating plates 104 can be provided for temperature control, only one of which is shown here. The heating plate 104 is arranged and designed to contact a wall 106 of the process reactor 102 in order to temper it. The heating plate 104 can be traversed by a heat transfer fluid, such as water, which in turn can be temperature-controlled using a suitable temperature control system (not shown in more detail). However, other temperature control systems, such as electric ones, are also conceivable. It goes without saying that the hot plate 104 is only one example of a temperature control device 103 for temperature control of the process reactor 102 . For example, the wall 106 itself can be hollow and a heat transfer fluid can flow through it.

A mixing device 108 is arranged in the process reactor 102 . The mixing device may include a central shaft 110 and a plurality of mixing blades 112 attached to the shaft 110 . The shaft 110 is connected to a drive, not shown in detail, which can cause the shaft 110 to rotate, as a result of which the mixing blades 112 can rotate inside the process reactor 102 . The mixing blades 112 can be embodied as scrapers that scrape along the inside of the wall 106 of the process reactor 102 in order to scrape off materials that have accumulated there and to guide them back into the interior of the process reactor 102 . Such a process reactor 102 is known per se as a scraped surface heat exchanger. It should be understood that although the process reactor 102 is shown with a vertical shaft 110 and four mixing blades 112 rotating in a horizontal plane, any known or conceivable variation of scraped surface heat exchanger may be employed so long as the processes described below can be performed.

The process reactor 102 has a first feed device 114, which in this exemplary embodiment has the shape of a funnel. The first feed device 114 serves to feed in a solid feed component 116. The solid feed component 116 can be stored in a first storage container 118. The first storage container 118 can be connected to the first feed device 114 via a first conveyor device 120 . This first conveying device 120 can be, for example, a dump truck or a conveyor belt or a manually conveyed bucket or the like. The first feed device 114 can be closed by a flap 115 . It should be mentioned that instead of the funnel, an opening can also be provided as the first feed device, into which a screw conveyor or the like opens as the first conveyor device 120 . It should be understood that only one fixed liner component 116 is shown for the sake of simplicity only. Further solid feed components can be stored in further storage containers and can be connected to the first feed device 114 via further or the same conveying device. The first conveying device(s) can include a premixing station, in which several solid feed components are premixed according to a recipe and conveyed directly to the first feed device 114 or temporarily stored in intermediate containers. The solid feed component 116 thus symbolizes every possible collection of individual components and/or mixtures that can be fed to the process reactor 102 via the first feed device 114 . Several first feed devices 114 for different solid feed components can also be provided.

The process reactor 102 has a second feed device 122, which in this exemplary embodiment has the form of a fluid connection. The second supply device 122 is used to supply a sauce 124. The sauce 124 can be stored in a second storage container 126. The second storage container 126 can be connected to the second feed device 122 via a second conveyor device 128 . This second delivery device 128 can, for example, be a line with a pump (not shown in detail). The second feeder 122 is in itself closed in a known manner. It should be understood that only a single sauce 124 is shown for the sake of simplicity only. Additional sauces or individual sauce components can be kept in additional storage containers and connected to the second feed device 122 via additional or the same conveyor device. The second conveyor device(s) can include a premixing station, in which several sauce components are premixed according to a recipe and conveyed directly to the second delivery device 122 or temporarily stored in intermediate containers. The sauce 123 thus symbolizes every possible collection of individual components and/or mixtures that can be fed to the process reactor 102 via the second feed device 122 . Several second feed devices 122 for different sauces or sauce components can also be provided.

The process reactor 102 optionally has a third feed device 130, which in this exemplary embodiment has the form of a fluid connection. The third supply device 130 is used to supply a further liquid or pasty or gelatinous or oily component 132. The further component 132 can be stored in a third storage container 134. The third storage container 134 can be connected to the third delivery device 130 via a third conveyor device 138 . This third delivery device 130 can be, for example, a line with a pump (not shown in detail). The third feed device 130 can be closed in a manner known per se. It is understood that only one additional component 132 is shown for the sake of simplicity. Further components can be kept in further storage containers and can be connected to the third feed device 130 via further or the same conveying device. The third conveyor device(s) can include a premixing station, in which several other components are premixed according to a recipe and conveyed directly to the third delivery device 130 or temporarily stored in intermediate containers. The component 132 thus symbolizes every possible collection of individual components and/or mixtures that can be fed to the process reactor 102 via the third feed device 122 . Several third feed devices 130 for different components or premixes can also be provided. If the/another component is water, the container 134 can be replaced with a water mains connection.

The process reactor 102 has an outlet 140 . The outlet 140 is optionally connected to an after-cooling station 144 via a fourth conveying device 142 . The fourth conveyor 142 can be a pipeline, possibly with a pump (not shown in detail), or a transport carriage route or a conveyor belt with intermediate containers or the like batch-loadable cooling chamber/refrigerator or the like.

A fifth conveyor 146 is provided to connect the after-cooling station 144 to a filling station 148 . The fifth conveyor 146 may be of the same type as the fourth conveyor 142, both may be the same. The fourth and the fifth conveying device 142, 146 including the post-cooling station 144, ie the entire path from the process reactor 102 to the filling station 148, are kept as sterile as possible. Ideally, the entire route takes place in the absence of air in closed pipes or closed containers.

In this exemplary embodiment, the filling station 148 is designed to fill the mixture supplied via the fifth conveyor device 146 into sterile containers 154 under sterile conditions. In the example shown, the containers 154 can be tubular film bags, for example. For this purpose, the filling station has, for example, a film feed 150 in which, for example, one or more film rolls or folded tube rolls is/are provided. The filling takes place in a manner known per se, but under sterile conditions. For this purpose, the film is completely disinfected with hydrogen peroxide, for example. The entire filling station 148 is also disinfected and then kept sterile with sterile air. The empty containers 154 are preformed and filled in portions according to the capacity. The filled containers 154 are sealed in a sterile manner, for example by ultrasonic sealing, and leave the filling station 148 via a sixth conveyor 152, which is shown here as a conveyor belt.

In a packaging station, the individual containers 154 are then packaged in outer packaging 158 and sent for delivery. The packaging station 156 or the filling station 148 can have a testing unit for testing the containers 154 for weight, tightness, seam quality and/or the like. Furthermore, a labeling unit (not shown in more detail) can be provided, which labels the containers 154 .

A control device 160 is provided for controlling the device. In particular, the control device 160 for controlling the temperature control device 103 with regard to a temperature regime mes in the process reactor 102 and the mixing device 108 with regard to mixing speed and duration, as well as the opening/closing states of the flap 105 or other closing elements of the feed devices 114, 122, 130 and the outlet 140, the after-cooling station 142, the conveying quantities of the conveying devices 122, 128, 138, 142, 146, 152, the cooling temperature of the after-cooling station 144. The filling process in the filling station 148 and downstream processes can, but do not have to, be controlled by other control devices or autonomously by the respective stations.

The manufacture of a wet food product using the device described above is described below with reference to a flow chart in 2 described in more detail. First, the process reactor 102 is charged with at least one solid animal feed component 116 and at least one sauce 124 via the first feed device 114 and the second feed device 122 . Additional components can be supplied via any of the first, second or third supply devices 114, 122, 130. The sauce 124 or other mixtures may be pre-mixed from individual components (step 202). The sealable feeders 114, 122, 130 can be used to dose the individual components and/or premixes according to a recipe (step 204).

In particular, if the sauce alone is not sufficient as a process liquid, further components such as water, edible oils or the like can be added.

• Die festen Stücke können ein eiweißhaltiges Fleischanalogon, Gemüse, Früchte, Samen, Käse, echtes Fleisch, echten Fisch oder eine Kombination davon enthalten. Die Methoden zur Herstellung der festen Lebensmittelstücke sind in der Technik bekannt. Die festen Stücke sind durch eine gelierte oder eingedickte wässrige Phase miteinander verbunden oder darin enthalten. Die Textur des gelierten Nassfutterprodukts für Haustiere kann von einem festen Gel bis zu einer zähflüssigen Soße reichen.
• Die Soßenkomponenten können Salze, Geschmacksstoffe, Farbstoffe, Vitamine, Mikronährstoffe, Kräuter, Konservierungsmittel, Antioxidantien, Emulgatoren und Kombinationen davon enthalten.
• Pflanzliches Eiweiß stammt vorzugsweise aus Eiweißquellen wie Sojaproteinisolat und -konzentrat, Reisprotein, Erbsenproteinisolat und -konzentrat, Weizenproteinisolat und -konzentrat, Rapsprotein, Ackerbohnenproteinkonzentrat, Kürbiskernprotein, Wasserlinsenprotein, Lupinenmehl, Mykoproteinen, Erdnussprotein, Hanfprotein, Quinoa, Amaranth, Linsen, Kichererbsen, Buchweizen, Dinkel, Nudeln (Vollkorn, Linsen, Kichererbsennudeln), Reis und Kombinationen davon.
• Nicht-pflanzliche Protein stammt vorzugsweise aus Proteinquellen, einschließlich, aber nicht beschränkt auf Milchproteine, Eipulver, echtem Fleisch und Fleischderivate.
• Fette umfassen vorzugsweise ein pflanzliches Öl, einschließlich, aber nicht beschränkt auf Sonnenblumenöl (mit hohem Ölsäuregehalt), Rapsöl, Sojaöl, Leinöl, Omega-3-Algenöl, Erdnussöl, Olivenöl, Kokosnussöl, Maisöl und Kombinationen davon.
• Als Kohlenhydraten können beispielsweise Nudeln, Reis, Kartoffeln, Süßkartoffeln, Erbsen, Stärken und dergleichen verwendet werden.
• Zu den Nicht-Stärke-Kohlenhydraten oder Hydrokolloiden, die insbesondere für die Soßenzubereitung verwendet werden können, gehören unter anderem Algenextrakte, Galaktomannan-Gummis, pektische Substanzen wie Zitrus- oder Apfelfasern und bakterielle Gummis.

With regard to composition and formulation, the invention is not limited to specific compositions. However, the device according to the invention and the production process that can be carried out with it are well suited for the production of wet food with the ingredients described below:

• The solid pieces may contain a proteinaceous meat analog, vegetables, fruits, seeds, cheese, real meat, real fish, or a combination thereof. The methods of making the solid food pieces are known in the art. The solid pieces are bound together by or contained within a gelled or thickened aqueous phase. The texture of the gelled wet pet food product can range from a firm gel to a viscous gravy.
• The sauce components can contain salts, flavors, colors, vitamins, micronutrients, herbs, preservatives, antioxidants, emulsifiers, and combinations thereof.
• Vegetable protein preferably comes from protein sources such as soy protein isolate and concentrate, rice protein, pea protein isolate and concentrate, wheat protein isolate and concentrate, canola protein, broad bean protein concentrate, pumpkin seed protein, duckweed protein, lupine flour, mycoproteins, peanut protein, hemp protein, quinoa, amaranth, lentils, chickpeas, buckwheat, Spelled, pasta (whole grain, lentils, chickpea noodles), rice and combinations thereof.
• Non-vegetable protein is preferably derived from protein sources including but not limited to milk proteins, powdered eggs, real meat and meat derivatives.
• Fats preferably include a vegetable oil, including but not limited to sunflower oil (high oleic acid), canola oil, soybean oil, flaxseed oil, omega-3 algae oil, peanut oil, olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil, and combinations thereof.
• As carbohydrates, for example, noodles, rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peas, starches and the like can be used.
• Non-starchy carbohydrates or hydrocolloids that can be used in particular for sauce preparation include, among others, seaweed extracts, galactomannan gums, peptic substances such as citrus or apple fibers and bacterial gums.

A recipe according to a first application example can contain vegetarian broth, cottage cheese, potatoes, whole egg powder, carrots, millet, zucchini, pumpkin, spinach, buckwheat, apple fibre, sunflower oil, minerals, yeast extract and optionally other ingredients.

A recipe according to a second application example can contain vegetarian broth, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, rice, carrots, pea protein isolate, zucchini, peas, pumpkin, spinach, sunflower oil, minerals, yeast and optionally other ingredients.

A third use example formulation may include meat or bone broth, poultry (offal such as liver, heart and stomach, and boneless meat), carrots, peas, cornstarch, lemon fiber, sunflower oil, minerals, and other optional ingredients.

After dosing the ingredients, the process reactor 102 is closed and the ingredients are mixed (step 206). Underneath is a first tumbling without significant heat input understood. The mixing can also take place at least partially with the process reactor 102 still open.

Thereafter, the mixture is cooked with further mixing (step 208). For this purpose, the mixture is heated by the temperature control device 103 under the control of the control device 160 to the cooking temperature, for example about 90° or more, and is kept at the cooking temperature for, for example, 10 to 20 minutes. Depending on the recipe, the cooking temperature and cooking time may vary.

Thereafter, the mixture is sterilized with further mixing (step 210). For this purpose, the mixture is heated to the sterilization temperature, preferably at least 120°, by the temperature control device 103 under the control of the control device 160 and is kept at the sterilization temperature for, for example, 1 to 5 minutes. Depending on the recipe, possibly also depending on the assumed or actual germ load, the sterilization temperature and duration can vary.

During cooking and sterilization, the interior of the process reactor 102 can be kept at an overpressure that can be up to 4 bar or more, for example. All closures, seals, etc. of the process reactor 102 are designed for these pressures as well as for the temperatures that occur.

After sterilization, the mixture in the process reactor 102 can be cooled by the temperature control device 103 under the control of the control device 160 and/or rest for a few minutes (steps 212) before it is removed from the process reactor 102 via the outlet 140. It has proven advantageous if the mixture leaves the process reactor 102 at about 50 to 90°C.

Subsequent cooling in after-cooling station 144 (step 214) is optional.

The filling (step 216) into suitable, sterile containers takes place in a manner known per se under sterile conditions. Plastic bags or tubular bags or foil tubular bags or pouch bags or foil bags with a stand-up base or trays with lids made of foil or thicker material (so-called mono-material with barrier) are particularly suitable as containers. The starting material is, for example, a film made of food-safe plastic such as PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC without plasticizer or with food-safe plasticizer and/or with an antimicrobial, food-safe coating. By using a feedstock that is recyclable, such as mono-PP, the environmental footprint can be improved. The container sizes currently preferred are those that have a capacity of at least 100 g or at least 200 g or at least 400 g or at least 800 g or at least 1200 g and/or at most 5000 g or at most 3000 g or at most 2000 g or at most 1200 g of the sterilized mixture. Bottling is followed by sterile sealing of the containers (step 218). The processing of the starting materials and semi-finished products, the filling and sealing are essentially known in the art. The sealing can be done, for example, by ultrasound. Such a seam can be detected particularly well, so that a subsequent check of the filled and sealed containers (step 220) for weight, tightness, seam quality and/or other parameters delivers reliable results.

The process is completed by labeling (step 222) and packaging (step 224) the filled and inspected containers. In this way, a salable wet food product is created that is hygienically safe, tasty, nutritious, resource-saving and inexpensive.

It should be pointed out that the core of the invention lies in the simultaneous mixing and sterilization of the mixture in the same temperature-controlled process reactor 102 . Any state that fulfills these process steps, even if it is an intermediate state in the process described, is a wet food product within the meaning of the invention. The further process steps and parameters are advantageous, but can be modified, omitted or carried out in a different order. For example, separate cooking in the process reactor can be dispensed with if the components are sufficiently cooked simply by sterilization, or those components that require cooking can be delivered already cooked or pre-cooked, stored and metered.

The features of the invention described with reference to the illustrated and/or described exemplary embodiments can also be present in other embodiments of the invention, unless otherwise stated or prohibited for technical reasons. Otherwise, the subject matter of the invention is defined solely by the independent claim(s). Further objects can be formed by any combination of features described herein that is new compared to the prior art and that solves an objective problem in a non-obvious way compared to the prior art, without other features that are not required to solve this problem being mandatory. needed, even if these others Features are present in the embodiments described herein. Unless specifically claimed independently, details of an exemplary embodiment are to be regarded as exemplary and optional.

• - Mischen fester Tiernahrungskomponenten mit einer Soße oder Soßenkomponenten in einem temperierbaren Prozessreaktor, und
• - Sterilisieren der Mischung durch Wärmebehandlung in dem Prozessreaktor.

The invention also provides a method, not claimed as such within the scope of this utility model, for producing a wet food product for animals, in particular pets, which is suitable for cooking, sterilizing and filling under aseptic conditions. Such a procedure comprises the steps:

• - mixing solid animal feed components with a sauce or sauce components in a temperature-controlled process reactor, and
• - Sterilizing the mixture by heat treatment in the process reactor.

• - aseptisches Abfüllen der sterilisierten Mischung in sterile Behälter, wobei die sterilen Behälter vorzugsweise
  • ◯ Kunststoffbeutel oder Schlauchbeutel oder Folienschlauchbeutel oder Pouchbeutel oder Folienbeutel mit Standboden oder Schalen sind und/oder
  • ◯ vorzugsweise eine Folie aus lebensmittelechtem Kunststoff wie etwa PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC ohne Weichmacher oder mit lebensmittelechtem Weichmacher und/oder eine antimikrobielle, lebensmittelechte Beschichtung aufweisen und/oder
  • ◯ wenigstens teilweise, insbesondere vollständig, aus recyclingfähigem Material, insbesondere aus Mono-PP, hergestellt sind und/oder
  • o eine Füllmenge von wenigstens 20g oder wenigstens 50g oder wenigstens 100g oder wenigstens 200g oder wenigstens 400g oder wenigstens 800g oder wenigstens 1200g und/oder von höchstens 5000 g oder höchstens 3000 g oder höchstens 2000 g oder höchstens 1200 g der sterilisierten Mischung aufweisen.

The method may further include:

• - aseptically filling the sterilized mixture into sterile containers, the sterile containers being preferred
  • ◯ Plastic bags or tubular bags or foil tubular bags or pouch bags or foil bags with a stand-up base or trays and/or
  • ◯ preferably have a film made of food-safe plastic such as PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC without plasticizer or with food-safe plasticizer and/or have an antimicrobial, food-safe coating and/or
  • ◯ are made at least partially, in particular completely, from recyclable material, in particular from mono-PP, and/or
  • o have a filling quantity of at least 20 g or at least 50 g or at least 100 g or at least 200 g or at least 400 g or at least 800 g or at least 1200 g and/or at most 5000 g or at most 3000 g or at most 2000 g or at most 1200 g of the sterilized mixture.

• - steriles Versiegeln der sterilen Behälter nach dem Befüllen, wobei das Versiegeln vorzugsweise eine detektierbare Ultraschallversiegelung umfasst.

The method may further include:

• - sterile sealing of the sterile containers after filling, the sealing preferably comprising a detectable ultrasonic seal.

Heating plates, which can be part of the process heat exchanger, can be used for temperature control. Alternatively, the temperature can also be controlled using indirect or direct steam. A scraped surface heat exchanger can be used as the process reactor.

The heat treatment may include heating to a sterilization temperature and holding at the sterilization temperature for a sterilization period, the sterilization temperature preferably being at least 110°C, or at least 115°C, or at least 120°C and/or at most 135°C, or at most 130°C, or at most 125°C or at most 122°C or at most 121°C and the sterilization time is preferably at most 10 minutes or at most 5 minutes or at most 3 minutes and/or preferably at least 30 seconds or at least 1 minute or at least 1.5 minutes or at least is 2 minutes.

A pressure of at least 1 bar or at least 2 bar or at least 3 bar and/or at most 20 bar or at most 15 bar or at most 10 bar or at most 5 bar or at most 4 bar can be maintained in the process reactor at least during the heat treatment.

After filling, the process reactor can be sealed pressure-tight at least for the time of the heat treatment.

• - Garen der Mischung in dem Prozessreaktor bei einer Gartemperatur für eine Gardauer vor dem Sterilisieren, wobei die Gartemperatur vorzugsweise höchstens 90°C oder höchstens 75°C oder höchstens 60°C beträgt und wobei die Gardauer vorzugsweise höchstens 40 Minuten oder höchstens 30 Minuten oder höchstens 20 Minuten beträgt und/oder vorzugsweise wenigstens 5 Minuten oder wenigstens 10 Minuten oder wenigstens 15 Minuten beträgt.

The method may further include:

• - Cooking the mixture in the process reactor at a cooking temperature for a cooking time before sterilization, wherein the cooking temperature is preferably at most 90°C or at most 75°C or at most 60°C and where the cooking time is preferably at most 40 minutes or at most 30 minutes or at most is 20 minutes and/or preferably at least 5 minutes or at least 10 minutes or at least 15 minutes.

• - Zuführen der festen Tiernahrungskomponenten dem Prozessreaktor über einen Trichter und/oder einen Schneckenförderer.
• - Zuführen weiterer flüssiger und/oder gelartiger und/oder pulveriger und/oder stückiger Tiernahrungskomponenten und/oder Zusatzstoffe während des Mischens.
• - Zuführen der Soße oder der Soßenkomponenten und/oder anderer Komponenten dem Prozessreaktor getrennt von den Tiernahrungskomponenten.
• - kontinuierliches Zuführen der festen Tiernahrungskomponenten und/oder der Soße oder der Soßenkomponenten und/oder anderer Komponenten dem Prozessreaktor von jeweiligen Lagerbehältern.

The method can also include at least one of the following steps:

• - Feeding the solid animal feed components to the process reactor via a hopper and/or a screw conveyor.
• - Supplying further liquid and/or gel-like and/or powdery and/or chunky animal food components and/or additives during the mixing.
• - feeding the sauce or the sauce components and/or other components to the process reactor separately from the animal feed components.
• - continuously feeding the solid pet food components and/or the sauce or the sauce components and/or other components to the process reactor from respective storage tanks.

• - kontinuierliches oder chargenweises Fördern oder Transportieren der in dem Prozessreaktor sterilisierten Mischung von dem Prozessreaktor zu einer Abfüllung.

The method may further include:

• - Continuous or batch conveying or transporting the mixture sterilized in the process reactor from the process reactor to a filling station.

• - Abkühlen der sterilisierten Mischung in dem Prozessreaktor und/oder
• - Abkühlen der sterilisierten Mischung vor dem Abfüllen außerhalb des Prozessreaktors und/oder
• - Abkühlen der abgefüllten Mischung in den Behältern.

The method may further include:

• - cooling the sterilized mixture in the process reactor and/or
• - Cooling of the sterilized mixture before filling outside the process reactor and/or
• - Cooling of the filled mixture in the containers.

• - Feuchtigkeit, mindestens 60 %
• - Eiweiß, mindestens 5 %
• - Fettgehalt, mindestens 4%
• - Kohlenhydrate, mindestens 5%
• - Aschegehalt, weniger als 1,5 % und
• - Ballaststoffe, weniger als 5 %.

In the process, the components are preferably put together in such a way that the ingredients of the filled mixture have:

• - Humidity, at least 60%
• - Protein, at least 5%
• - Fat content, at least 4%
• - Carbohydrates, at least 5%
• - Ash content, less than 1.5% and
• - Fiber, less than 5%.

The method is further preferably performed such that the packaged mix is in the form of a pudding, a mousse, or solid pieces in a sauce.

A method is thus provided that can produce a hygienically safe and palatable wet food product with good nutrient retention that is inexpensive, time-saving, simple, and has a good energy balance.

In particular, compared to conventional sterilization in which wet petfood is subjected to high temperatures and long heating cycles, aseptic processing allows sterilization of wet petfood using a short heating cycle with temperatures of, for example, 115-120°C and a duration of, for example, 3-5 minutes. As a result, the wet pet food aseptically processed using a short-term/temperature heating process has better retention of nutrients, vitamins, bioactive and heat-sensitive ingredients compared to that processed using a long-term/temperature heating process.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• US20200229460A1 [0003]
• EP 1918670 A1 [0004]
• EP 1775542 A1 [0005]
• US 9615593 B2 [0006]

Claims (36)

Wet food product for animals, especially pets, manufactured by: - Mixing solid animal feed components (116) with a sauce (124) or sauce components in a temperature-controlled process reactor (102), and - sterilizing the mixture by heat treatment in the process reactor (102). wet food product claim 1 , wherein the process reactor (102) has heating plates (104) for temperature control. wet food product claim 1 or 2 , wherein the process reactor (102) is a scraped surface heat exchanger. Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heat treatment comprises heating to a sterilization temperature and holding at the sterilization temperature for a sterilization period, the sterilization temperature preferably being at least 110°C, or at least 115°C, or at least 120°C and/or at most 135°C or at most 130°C or at most 125°C or at most 122°C or at most 121°C and wherein the sterilization time is preferably at most 10 minutes or at most 5 minutes or at most 3 minutes and/or preferably at least 30 seconds or at least 1 minute or is at least 1.5 minutes or at least 2 minutes. Wet feed product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a pressure in the process reactor (102) at least during the heat treatment is at least 1 bar or at least 2 bar or at least 3 bar and/or at most 20 bar or at most 15 bar or at most 10 bar or at most 5 bar or is at most 4 bar. Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - Cooking the mixture in the process reactor (102) at a cooking temperature for a cooking time before sterilization, wherein the cooking temperature is preferably at most 90°C or at most 75°C or at most 60°C and the cooking time is preferably at most 40 minutes or at most 30 minutes or at most 20 minutes and/or preferably at least 5 minutes or at least 10 minutes or at least 15 minutes. Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mixing comprises the addition of further liquid and/or gel-like and/or powdery and/or chunky animal food components (116) and/or additives. Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - feeding the solid animal feed components (116) to the process reactor (102) via a hopper and/or a screw conveyor. Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - feeding the sauce (124) or the sauce components and/or other components to the process reactor (102) separately from the animal feed components (116). Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - continuously feeding the solid pet food components (116) and/or the sauce (124) or the sauce components and/or other components (132) to the process reactor (102) from respective storage containers (118, 126, 134). Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - cooling the sterilized mixture in the process reactor (102) and/or outside the process reactor (102). Wet food product according to any one of the preceding claims, further manufactured by - aseptically filling the sterilized mixture into sterile containers (154). wet food product claim 12 , further produced by - sterile sealing the sterile containers (154) after filling, the sealing preferably comprising a detectable ultrasonic seal. wet food product claim 12 or 13 , further produced by - continuously or batchwise conveying or transporting the mixture sterilized in the process reactor (102) from the process reactor (102) to the filling station. Wet food product according to one of the preceding claims, filled in sterile containers (154) with a capacity of at least 20 g or at least 50 g or at least 100 g or at least 200 g or at least 400 g or at least 800 g or at least 1200 g and/or at most 5000 g or at most 3000 g or at most 2000 g or at most 1200 g of the sterilized mixture. Wet food product according to one of Claims 12 until 15 , wherein the sterile containers (154) are plastic bags or tubular bags or foil tubular bags or pouch bags or foil bags with a stand-up base or shells and/or before preferably a film made of food-safe plastic such as PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC without plasticizer or with food-safe plasticizer and/or have an antimicrobial, food-safe coating and/or at least partially, in particular completely, made of recyclable material, in particular made of mono PP. Wet food product according to one of Claims 12 until 16 , where the ingredients of the bottled mixture have: - - Moisture, at least 60% - - Protein, at least 5% - - Fat content, at least 4% - - Carbohydrates, at least 5% - - Ash content, less than 1.5% and - - Fiber, less than 5%. Wet food product according to one of Claims 12 until 17 wherein the packaged mix is in the form of a pudding, a mousse, or solid pieces in a sauce. Device for producing a wet food product for animals, in particular pets, the device having: - a process reactor (102) which is designed to receive solid animal feed components (116) and a sauce (124) or sauce components, - a temperature control device (103) which is designed to control the temperature of the process reactor (102), in particular walls of the process reactor (102), - a mixing device (108) which is set up for mixing the components located in the process reactor (102), and - A control device (160) which is used to control the mixing device (108) in order to mix the components in the process reactor (102) and to control the temperature control device (103) in order to carry out the components or the mixture in the process reactor (102). To sterilize heat treatment, trained and configured. device after claim 19 , wherein the temperature control device (103) has heating plates (104). .device after claim 19 or 20 , wherein the process reactor (102) is a scraped surface heat exchanger. Device according to one of claims 19 until 21 , wherein the control device (160) is designed and configured to control the temperature control device (103) in such a way that the components or the mixture in the process reactor (102) are brought to a sterilization temperature and kept at the sterilization temperature for a sterilization period, the sterilization temperature preferably at least 110°C or at least 115°C or at least 120°C and/or at most 135°C or at most 130°C or at most 125°C or at most 122°C or at most 121°C and the sterilization time is preferably at most 10 minutes or at most 5 minutes or at most 3 minutes and/or preferably at least 30 seconds or at least 1 minute or at least 1.5 minutes or at least 2 minutes. Device according to one of claims 19 until 22 , wherein the control device (160) is designed and configured to maintain a pressure in the process reactor (102) at least during the heat treatment of at least 1 bar or at least 2 bar or at least 3 bar and/or at most 20 bar or at most 15 bar or at most 10 bar or at most 5 bar or at most 4 bar. Device according to one of claims 19 until 23 , wherein the control device (160) is further designed and configured to control the temperature control device (103) in such a way that the components or the mixture in the process reactor (102) are cooked before sterilization at a cooking temperature for a cooking time before sterilization, wherein the cooking temperature is preferably at most 90°C or at most 75°C or at most 60°C and the cooking time is preferably at most 40 minutes or at most 30 minutes or at most 20 minutes and/or preferably at least 5 minutes or at least 10 minutes or at least 15 minutes. Device according to one of claims 19 until 24 wherein the process reactor (102) has a hopper and/or a screw conveyor for feeding in the solid animal feed components (116). Device according to one of claims 19 until 25 , wherein the process reactor (102) is hermetically and pressure-tight, in particular up to 1 bar or 2 bar or 3 bar or 4 bar overpressure can be closed. Device according to one of claims 19 until 26 , wherein the process reactor (102) supply elements (114, 122, 130) for supplying further components (132) such as further liquid and / or gel-like and / or powdery and / or chunky animal food components (116) and / or additives during a Closing state of the process reactor (102), in particular during an overpressure state of the process reactor (102). Device according to one of claims 19 until 27 , further comprising a premixing station for mixing sauce components, wherein the pre-mixing station is preferably fluidly connected to the process reactor (102). Device according to one of claims 19 until 28 , further comprising a supply storage station with storage containers (118, 126, 134) for storing the solid pet food components (116) and/or the sauce (124) or the sauce components and/or other components (132). Device according to one of claims 19 until 29 , further comprising transport devices (120, 128, 138) for continuously or discontinuously supplying the solid animal feed components (116) and/or the sauce (124) or the sauce components and/or other components (132) to the process reactor (102) from respective storage containers ( 118, 126, 134). Device according to one of claims 19 until 30 , wherein the control device (160) is designed and configured to cool the mixture in the process reactor (102) to a predetermined temperature after sterilization. Device according to one of claims 19 until 31 , further comprising a cooling device (144) which is designed and configured to cool the sterilized mixture outside of the process reactor (102) to a predetermined temperature. Device according to one of claims 19 until 32 , further comprising a filling station (148) which is designed for aseptically filling the sterilized mixture from the process reactor (102) into sterile containers (154), the sterile containers (154) preferably being plastic bags or tubular bags or film tubular bags or pouch bags or film bags with a stand-up base or trays and preferably have a film made of food-safe plastic such as PET, PE-HD, PE-LD, PP, PVC without plasticizer or with food-safe plasticizer and/or an antimicrobial, food-safe coating and/or at least partially, in particular completely recyclable material, in particular made of mono-PP. device after Claim 33 , wherein the filling station comprises a sealing unit for sterile sealing of the sterile containers (154) after filling, preferably by a detectable ultrasonic seal. device after Claim 33 or 34 , further comprising a testing unit for testing the pet food product filled and sealed in a sterile container (154), the testing unit being designed to test individual containers (154) with regard to weight and/or tightness and/or seam quality. Device according to one of Claims 33 until 35 , wherein the sterile containers (154) have a capacity of at least 20 g or at least 50 g or at least 100 g or at least 200 g or at least 400 g or at least 800 g or at least 1200 g and/or at most 5000 g or at most 3000 g or at most 2000 g or at most 1200 g of the sterilized mixture.

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