JP6661338B2 - Manufacturing method of pet food - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for producing pet food.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various ideas have been devised for pet food and its feeding method so as to be eaten by pets, that is, to improve palatability.
For example, Patent Literature 1 describes that pet food obtained by drying and pulverizing ingredients such as beef and chicken is sprinkled on other pet food and used.
Patent Document 2 discloses a pet food in which a first material obtained by crushing boiled dried to small particles and a second material obtained by crushing bonito flakes into small particles or shaving crushed nodes into small flakes are used. It is described that it is used by sprinkling on other pet food.

Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3077324 JP 2004-283158 A

Pet food is usually stored in a packaging bag or the like, and stored and transported.
However, as described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, pet foods manufactured by crushing or shaving food materials are non-uniform in shape and size, and thus tend to be biased in the packaging bag. It is easy to collect at the bottom. Therefore, when sprinkling the pet food in the packaging bag on other pet foods, the fine pet food remains in the packaging bag, and the size of the pet food coming out of the packaging bag at the beginning and end of use is small. Will be different.

The present inventors have conducted intensive studies and found that pet foods having a uniform shape and size can be obtained by cutting a molded product obtained by molding the food material in a block shape, rather than cutting the food material itself, and it is not easily biased in a packaging bag. It came to the idea of becoming.
By the way, particularly when producing pet food for cats, it is common to use fish raw materials as raw materials.
However, when a fish raw material is used, foreign substances (contaminants) such as bones, scales, and skin often pose a problem compared to raw materials derived from livestock animals such as cows, pigs, and chickens.
As described above, in the production of pet food, a fish raw material containing a large amount of impurities may be used. However, when a fish raw material containing a large amount of impurities is formed into a block shape and cut, even if the cutting blade hits the foreign matter, the formed body or the cut material is broken without the foreign matter being cut, resulting in a uniform size. We faced a new problem that it was difficult to obtain pod-shaped pet food.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a pet food that is less likely to be biased in a packaging bag.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] There is a cutting step of cutting a molded body in which a mixture containing at least a fish raw material and a plant-derived raw material is molded in a block shape, and the fish raw material in the molded body can pass through a sieve having an aperture of 2 mm. A method of manufacturing pet food.
[2] The method for producing a pet food according to [1], wherein the mixture contains 30 to 85% by mass of a fish material and 10 to 20% by mass of a plant-derived material.
[3] The method for producing a pet food according to [1] or [2], further comprising a straining step of straining a crude material containing impurities to obtain the fish material.
[4] The method for producing a pet food according to [3], wherein in the cleaning step, the crude material is cleaned using a plurality of sieves.
[5] The method for manufacturing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [4], wherein the molded body is cut in a width direction of the molded body.
[6] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [5], further including a heating step of heating the molded body before the cutting step.
[7] The pet according to any one of [1] to [6], further comprising, before the cutting step, a drying step of drying the molded body so that the water content becomes 10 to 30% by mass. Food manufacturing method.
[8] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [7], wherein in the cutting step, the molded body is cut so as to have a thickness of 0.01 to 0.3 mm.
[9] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [8], wherein the mixture contains 2 to 5% by mass of fats and oils.
[10] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [9], wherein the mixture contains 1 to 10% by mass of a humectant.
[11] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [10], wherein the mixture contains a health functional component in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by mass.
[12] The method for producing a pet food according to any one of [1] to [11], wherein the mixture contains 0.1 to 20% by mass of a palatability enhancer.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the manufacturing method of the pet food of this invention, the pet food which is not biased in a packaging bag can be manufactured.

[Production method of pet food]
The method for producing a pet food of the present invention has a cutting step described below. Further, prior to the cutting step, a heating step, a cutting step, a drying step, and the like described below may be provided.
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the method for manufacturing a pet food of the present invention will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
The method for manufacturing a pet food according to the present embodiment includes a flattening step, a mixing step, a molding step, a heating step, a cutting step, a drying step, and a cutting step.

<Clean process>
The backing step is a step of backing out a crude material containing impurities to obtain a fish material that can pass through a sieve having a mesh size of 2 mm.
In the present invention, the “crude raw material containing impurities” refers to a fish raw material before foreign substances (contaminants) such as bones, scales and skins are removed. In the fish raw material before the impurities are removed, the whole amount does not pass through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm, and the impurities remain on the sieve.

As described above, in the production of pet food, a fish raw material containing a large amount of impurities may be used. It is difficult to obtain pet food of the size and shape.
However, even when a crude material containing impurities is used as a raw material for pet food, if the raw material is a fish raw material that can pass through a sieve with an opening of 2 mm by performing a flattening process, it is difficult to cut the fish. The foreign matter is sufficiently removed. Therefore, if a fish raw material that can pass through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm is formed into a block shape and cut, a pet food having a uniform size and shape can be obtained.
As described above, if the flattening step is performed, a crude material containing impurities can be used as a raw material for pet food.

Each part of fish can be used as a crude material used in the rinsing step. For example, even a part containing impurities that do not pass through a sieve having an aperture of 4 mm can be used.
In this manner, if the flattening step is performed, for example, a crude material containing 10 to 50% by mass of impurities that do not pass through a sieve having a mesh size of 4 mm can be used.

The method for straining the raw material is not particularly limited as long as the strained material can pass through a sieve having a mesh size of 2 mm.For example, the coarse material is placed on a sieve and the coarse material is rubbed into a mesh with a spatula or the like. And a method of recovering a passing material that has passed through a mesh.
It is preferable to use a sieve having an opening of 2 mm or less, that is, a punching metal having an opening having a side of 2 mm or less for the backing. In addition, from the viewpoint of preventing clogging of the filter, it is preferable to use a plurality of sieves for rinsing. Specifically, after the raw material is sieved with a sieve having a mesh size of more than 2 mm, it is preferable that the material passed through the sieve with a mesh size of more than 2 mm is mashed with a sieve having a mesh size of 2 mm or less. It is more preferable that after passing through the coarse raw material using a 4 to 6 mm sieve, the passing material having passed through the 4 to 6 mm sieve is sifted using a 1 to 2 mm sieve.
By straining the raw material, impurities having a size that hinders cutting are sufficiently removed, and the raw material is minced.

It is preferable that the content of the contaminants in the fish raw material, which can be passed through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm, obtained by the backing step be 5% by mass or less based on the total mass of the fish raw material. The content of the impurities in the fish raw material that can pass through the sieve having an opening of 2 mm is determined as follows.
The fish raw material is passed through a sieve having an opening of 1 mm, that is, a punching metal having an opening of 1 mm on each side, and the mass of the material that has not passed through the sieve having an opening of 1 mm (residue on the sieve) is measured. Assuming that the mass of the fish raw material before passing through a sieve having an opening of 1 mm is a [g] and the mass of the residue on the sieve is b [g], the content of impurities is determined by the following formula (1).
Content of impurities [% by mass] = (b / a) × 100 (1)

<Mixing process>
The mixing step is a step of mixing a fish raw material that can pass through a sieve with an opening of 2 mm and a plant-derived raw material to obtain a mixture.
Examples of plant-derived raw materials include cereals, starches, vegetable protein sources, vegetables and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The cereals include corn, wheat, rice, barley, oats, rye, and the like.
Examples of starches include wheat starch, corn starch, rice starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, sweet potato starch, sago starch, and the like. These starches may be raw raw starches or modified starches that have been subjected to known chemical treatments (eg, oxidation, esterification, etherification, etc.).
Vegetable protein sources include corn gluten meal, defatted soy, soy protein, and the like.
It is preferable to use at least starch as a plant-derived material.

  In the mixing step, for example, in addition to fish raw materials and plant-derived raw materials that can pass through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm, for example, animal-derived raw materials other than fish raw materials (hereinafter, also referred to as “other animal-derived raw materials”). ), Fats and oils, humectants, health functional ingredients, palatability improvers, and the like.

Examples of other animal-derived raw materials include meats (including internal organs) derived from animals (livestock such as cattle, pigs, chickens, etc.), meat protein decomposition products (digests), chicken eggs, and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. As another animal-derived raw material, it is preferable to use at least meat.
It is preferable to use meat that has not been subjected to heat treatment, since the palatability of pets is further improved.

Fats and oils are components that impart flexibility to a cut product (pet food) obtained by a cutting process described below.
If the cuttings are not sufficiently flexible, the cuttings may be broken or broken when sprinkled on other pet foods and become fine, making it difficult to adapt to other pet foods. In particular, when the other pet food is a dry-type granular pet food, a cut object may fall from a gap between individual grains (hereinafter, also referred to as “food grains”). If the sprinkle falls from the gap between the food grains, the proportion of sprinkle remaining on the surface of the granular pet food placed on the dish decreases, and the effect of improving the palatability by the sprinkle cannot be sufficiently obtained.
When oils and fats are used together, the flexibility of the cut material is increased, so that it becomes easy to adapt to other pet foods.

The fat may be vegetable fat or animal fat. From the viewpoint of workability, vegetable oils and fats are preferred. Further, vegetable oils and animal oils and fats may be used in combination.
Vegetable oils and fats include, for example, olive oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, camellia oil and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Soybean oil is preferred because it is liquid at normal temperature, easily mixed with other raw materials (that is, excellent in workability), and has little influence on palatability.
Animal fats and oils include, for example, fish oil, chicken oil, lard (lard), beef tallow (head), milk fat and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

If a health functional ingredient is used in combination, a pet food with an excellent nutritional balance can be obtained.
The health functional component may be appropriately selected and used according to the health function required of the pet food, and includes, for example, glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The humectant is a component that retains moisture in a molded body obtained by a molding step described below and reduces water activity.
If a humectant is used in combination, appropriate softness can be maintained without increasing the water content in the molded body, and powder is less likely to be generated during cutting.
Examples of the humectant include glycerin and sorbitol. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
In addition, when the pet food obtained by the present invention is used for cats, propylene glycol known as a humectant is not used.

When a palatability enhancer is used in combination, the variation in taste can be changed. When an animal-derived material such as a fish material and a plant-derived material are used in combination, the production cost can be reduced as compared with a case where only the animal-derived material is used, but the taste may be reduced. In such a case, if a palatability enhancer is further used in combination, the reduction in taste can be suppressed while suppressing the production cost.
Examples of the palatability improver include enzymatic degradation products of animal raw materials, enzymatic decomposition products of vegetable materials, and yeast extract. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Animal-derived enzyme digests include chicken enzyme digest, chicken liver enzyme digest, pork enzyme digest, pork liver enzyme digest, beef enzyme digest, beef liver enzyme digest, fish and shellfish And the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Examples of the vegetable-derived enzyme digest include enzyme digests of beans (such as soybeans) and potatoes (such as potatoes). These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Examples of the yeast extract include brewer's yeast extract, baker's yeast extract, torula yeast extract and the like. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  In the mixing step, various additives such as a flavor raw material, a fiber, a colorant, a thickener, and a quality preservative may be used in combination.

In the mixing step, the various raw materials may be mixed under atmospheric pressure, or may be mixed under reduced pressure.
Note that “under reduced pressure” means a state of a pressure lower than the atmospheric pressure (1013 hPa at 23 ° C.). That is, the degree of pressure reduction (degree of vacuum) is not less than -0.1 MPa and less than 0 MPa. Here, the “degree of pressure reduction” is a gauge pressure (a pressure with the atmospheric pressure set to zero).

In the mixing step, each raw material is preferably mixed such that the content of each raw material with respect to the total mass of the mixture is within the following range.
The content of the fish raw material based on the total mass of the mixture is preferably 30 to 85% by mass, more preferably 40 to 80% by mass, and still more preferably 50 to 70% by mass. If the content of the fish raw material is 30% by mass or more, good palatability is easily obtained, especially when fed to cats. In addition, the mixture does not become too hard, and the mixture is easily formed into a desired shape in a molding step described later, and the obtained molded body is not too hard, so that it becomes easy to cut. On the other hand, when the content of the fish raw material is 85% by mass or less, the content of the plant-derived raw material can be sufficiently ensured, and in the cutting step described below, the molded body can be cut to a desired thickness and the obtained cut material can be obtained. The flexibility can be maintained favorably.
The content of the fish raw material is preferably from 40 to 100% by mass, and the content of other animal-derived materials is preferably from 0 to 60% by mass, based on the total mass of the animal-derived materials.

  The content of the plant-derived raw material with respect to the total mass of the mixture is preferably from 10 to 20% by mass, more preferably from 12 to 17% by mass. When the content of the plant-derived raw material is 10% by mass or more, in the cutting step described below, the molded body can be cut to a desired thickness, and the flexibility of the obtained cut material can be favorably maintained. On the other hand, when the content of the plant-derived material is 20% by mass or less, the effect on palatability is small.

  2-5 mass% is preferable, and, as for content of fats and oils with respect to the total mass of a mixture, 2.5-4.5 mass% is more preferable. When the content of the fat or oil is 2% by mass or more, the flexibility of a cut product obtained in a cutting step described later is further increased. On the other hand, when the content of the fat or oil is 5% by mass or less, the influence on the palatability is small.

  The content of the humectant with respect to the total mass of the mixture is preferably 1 to 10% by mass, more preferably 2 to 7% by mass. When the content of the humectant is 1% by mass or more, generation of powder at the time of cutting the molded body can be further suppressed, and the yield of pet food is increased. On the other hand, if the content of the humectant is 10% by mass or less, the effect on palatability is small.

  The content of the health functional component with respect to the total mass of the mixture depends on the type of the health functional component, but is preferably, for example, 0.1 to 10% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by mass, and still more preferably 1 to 3% by mass. preferable. If the content of the health functional component is 0.1% by mass or more, the health function can be sufficiently imparted to the pet food. On the other hand, if the content of the health functional component is 10% by mass or less, the effect on palatability is small.

  The content of the palatability enhancer with respect to the total mass of the molded article to be cut is preferably 0.1 to 20% by mass, more preferably 1 to 10% by mass, and still more preferably 2 to 8% by mass in terms of solid content. When the content of the palatability enhancer is 0.1% by mass or more, palatability is further enhanced. On the other hand, when the content of the palatability enhancer is 20% by mass or less, the effect on the texture of the pet food is small.

<Molding process>
The molding step is a step of molding the mixture obtained in the mixing step into a block to obtain a molded body.
As a method of molding the mixture into a block shape, for example, a method of extruding and molding the mixture is exemplified. Further, the mixture may be formed into a block by stretching by hand or the like.
From the viewpoint of enhancing the moldability, the mixture may be further added with water before molding.

The term “block-shaped” in the present invention refers to those having the same cross-sectional shape when a plurality of arbitrary portions of the molded body are cut in the width direction of the molded body. The cross-sectional shape includes, but is not limited to, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon (for example, a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a rhombus, a trapezoid, and the like), a star, a heart, and the like.
The “block shape” includes the “rod shape”.
The “width direction of the molded body” is, for example, a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction when the molded body is manufactured by extrusion molding. When a molded body is produced by stretching the raw material by hand or the like, the “width direction of the molded body” means a direction perpendicular to the stretching direction. When the molded body has a rod shape, the “width direction of the molded body” means a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

Area of cross-section when cut in the width direction of the molded body is preferably 1 to 200 mm ^2, more preferably 5 to 100 mm ^2, more preferably 20 to 80 mm ^2. When the cross-sectional area is within the above range, when the pet food obtained by the present invention is sprinkled on another pet food, the pet food becomes more easily familiar with the other pet food.
The area of the cross section is the same as the area of the cut surface of the cutting obtained by the cutting step described later, and the cross-sectional shape is the same as the shape of the cutting surface of the cutting.

The mixture is preferably shaped into a rod in that many cuts can be obtained in one cutting step.
In addition, extrusion molding is preferable as a molding method in terms of excellent productivity.
The shape of the die (die) for extruding the raw material is the shape of the size (cut surface) of the cut object. Examples of the shape of the base (that is, the shape of the cutting surface) include, for example, a circle, an ellipse, a polygon (for example, a triangle, a square, a pentagon, a hexagon, a rhombus, a trapezoid), a star, a heart, and the like. It is not limited to these.

<Heating process>
The heating step is a step of heating the block-shaped molded body.
By heating the molded body before cutting, the shape of the molded body is easily stabilized, and the molded body is easily cut in the cutting process.
In the heating step, the molded body may be heated by firing, or the molded body may be heated by steaming. In particular, in the case of steaming heating, the molded body can be uniformly heated without lowering the flavor of the fish raw material.

When firing the molded body, the heating temperature (firing temperature) of the molded body is preferably from 60 to 200 ° C, more preferably from 75 to 150 ° C, even more preferably from 90 to 120 ° C. Further, the heating time (firing time) of the molded body is preferably 5 to 60 minutes, more preferably 8 to 50 minutes, and further preferably 10 to 30 minutes.
When the molded body is steamed, the same heat treatment as in the case of firing the molded body may be performed.

<Cutting process>
The cutting step is a step of cutting the molded body into a size (length) that is easy to cut.

<Drying process>
The drying step is a step of drying the molded body so that the water content becomes 10 to 30% by mass.
By the drying step, the water content with respect to the total mass of the molded body to be cut is 10 to 30% by mass. When the water content is 10% by mass or more, powder is less likely to be generated when cutting the molded body, and the yield of pet food is increased. On the other hand, if the water content is 30% by mass or less, it becomes difficult for the cuttings to adhere to each other or to adhere to the cutting blade or the like used in the cutting step, so that the molded body is easily cut. The water content of the molded body to be cut is preferably 12 to 18% by mass.
The drying temperature and drying time of the molded body are not particularly limited as long as the moisture content of the molded body is within the above-mentioned range, but for example, the drying temperature is preferably 60 to 120 ° C., and the drying time is 7 to 17 hours. Time is preferred.
Note that the drying step may also serve as a heating step.

The water content of the molded body is measured as follows.
An object to be measured is pulverized by a pulverizer so as to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and this is used as an analysis sample. Accurately weigh 2 to 5 g of an analytical sample, place in an aluminum weighing dish (previously dried and accurately weighed), dry at 135 ± 2 ° C. for 2 hours, and cool in a desiccator Thereafter, the weight is accurately measured, and the water content is determined from the weight difference before and after drying.

<Cutting process>
The cutting step is a step of cutting a molded body obtained by molding the mixture into a block.
By cutting a molded product in which the mixture is molded into a block shape, a pet food that is a set of cut materials having a uniform shape and size can be obtained with high productivity.
The molded body is preferably cut in the width direction. By cutting the molded body in the width direction, a cut object having a uniform shape and size can be obtained with a high yield. When the molded body has a rod shape, it may be cut obliquely to the width direction of the molded body. However, in this case, the size of the cut product obtained by cutting the end of the rod-shaped molded body is different from that of the cut product obtained by cutting a portion (center portion) other than the end. Therefore, a cut product having a uniform shape and size and obtained by cutting a portion other than the end portion becomes the pet food of the present invention, and the yield is reduced.
The end of the rod-shaped molded body refers to a region where the entire end face of the molded body before cutting is cut.
A commercially available shaving machine can be used for cutting the molded body.

In the cutting step, the molded body is preferably cut so that the thickness of the cut object is 0.01 to 0.3 mm. When the thickness of the cut object is within the above range, when the pet food obtained by the present invention is sprinkled on another pet food, the pet food is easily adapted to the other pet food. In particular, when the other pet food is a dry-type granular pet food, the pet food obtained according to the present invention is easily entangled with the food particles, and the pet food obtained according to the present invention can be prevented from dropping from the gap between the food particles.
In the cutting step, the molded body is more preferably cut so that the thickness of the cut object is 0.05 to 0.2 mm, and more preferably 0.1 to 0.15 mm.
The thickness of the cut object is measured using, for example, a caliper or an optical microscope.

In the cutting step, the ratio (equivalent diameter: thickness) of the diameter (equivalent diameter) of a circle having a circular area equal to the area of the cutting surface to the thickness of the cut product is 23: 1 to 700: 1. It is preferable to cut the molded body in such a manner, more preferably 45: 1 to 140: 1, and even more preferably 50: 1 to 100: 1. When the ratio between the equivalent diameter and the thickness of the cut object is within the above range, when the pet food obtained by the present invention is sprinkled on another pet food, the pet food becomes more easily familiar with the other pet food.
The shape of the cut surface is the same as the cross-sectional shape, and the area of the cut surface is the same as the cross-sectional area.

<Effects>
As described above, in the production of pet food, a fish raw material containing a large amount of impurities may be used. It is difficult to obtain pet food of the size and shape.
However, in the method for manufacturing the pet food of the present embodiment, since the raw material is a fish raw material that can pass through a sieve having a mesh size of 2 mm by performing a flattening step, impurities having a size that hinders cutting are sufficiently removed. . In the pet food manufacturing method of the present embodiment, a mixture containing a fish raw material and a plant-derived raw material that can pass through the sieve having an opening of 2 mm is cut into a block-shaped molded body. A pet food, which is an aggregate of cuts of different sizes, is obtained.

Therefore, even if the pet food obtained by the present invention is accommodated in a packaging bag, the pet food is not easily biased in the packaging bag.
In particular, if the molded body is cut in the width direction, a pet food can be obtained with a high yield.
Further, if the molded body is cut so that the thickness of the cut object becomes 0.01 to 0.3 mm, the pet food obtained according to the present invention can be easily used when sprinkled on another pet food.
Furthermore, if the content of the fish raw material in the mixture is 30 to 85% by mass and the both are mixed so that the content of the plant-derived raw material is 10 to 20% by mass, good palatability when fed to cats And the moldability of the mixture and the machinability of the molded body are also improved. In addition, the flexibility of the cutting can be favorably maintained. Furthermore, if fats and oils are blended, the flexibility of the cut material is further increased, so that the familiarity with other pet foods is further improved.

By the way, a conventional pet food that is used by sprinkling on other pet food, so-called sprinkling, is obtained by drying and crushing ingredients such as beef and chicken. That is, the raw materials are only animal-derived raw materials such as beef and chicken, and since the raw materials are indefinite, it is necessary to discard non-standard-sized products in order to make the shapes uniform, so that the production cost tends to increase.
However, in the pet food manufacturing method of the present invention, the food material (raw material) is processed into a block-shaped molded body, and then cut, instead of processing (cutting) the food material itself. Therefore, the combination and the amount of the raw materials contained in the molded body can be freely changed. In the present invention, at least the fish raw material and the inexpensive plant-derived raw material are used, so that the production cost can be reduced as compared with the case where only the fish raw material is used.

In addition, when the molded body is cut into a desired thickness instead of cutting the molded body, the size of the cut object is difficult to be uniform, and the smaller the thickness, the more noticeable. Therefore, in the case of cutting, there is a limit in reducing the thickness as compared with cutting. For example, in the case of cutting, it is difficult to cut the molded body so that the thickness becomes 0.3 mm or less. Therefore, when the same amount of cut material as the cut material is sprinkled on another pet food, the ratio of the cut material to the other pet food (the number of cut materials) is small, and it is difficult to feel that the cut object is sufficiently sprinkled.
However, when the pet food obtained by the present invention is sprinkled with the same amount as the cut material, it is easy to feel that the pet food is sufficiently sprinkled.

<Other embodiments>
The method for producing a pet food of the present invention is not limited to the above-described method as long as the fish raw material in the molded body can pass through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm. The above-described pet food manufacturing method includes a flattening step, a mixing step, a molding step, a heating step, a cutting step, a drying step, and a cutting step, but the heating step, the cutting step, and the drying step are performed. You don't have to. However, from the viewpoint that the molded body is easily cut in the cutting step, it is preferable to dry the molded body before cutting so that the water content is 10 to 30% by mass.

In addition, in the above-described method for producing pet food, the mixing step is performed after the cleaning step, but the mixture obtained by mixing the crude material containing impurities and the plant-derived material is passed through a 2 mm sieve. You may strain it to make it possible. However, in consideration of work efficiency and work time, it is preferable to perform the mixing step after the cleaning step.
In addition, the flattening step, the mixing step, and the molding step do not need to be performed.For example, the mixing step may be performed using a raw fish material that has been flattened in another place, that is, a raw raw fish material, or may be performed. The molding step may be performed using a mixture obtained by mixing fish raw materials and plant-derived raw materials at different places. Furthermore, the raw fish material and the plant-derived raw material, etc., which have already been strained, may be mixed in another place, and the cutting step may be performed using a block-shaped molded body. At that time, if necessary, the molded body may be heated, cut, or dried before cutting.

  The pet food obtained according to the present invention is preferably used by sprinkling dry pet food, semi-moist pet food, wet pet food, and the like. The pet food obtained by the present invention is particularly suitable as a sprinkle for dry-type granular pet food. Further, the pet food obtained by the present invention contains fish raw materials, and thus is particularly suitable as pet food for cats.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

[Measurement / evaluation method]
<Measurement of water content>
The object to be measured was pulverized by a pulverizer so as to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and this was used as an analysis sample. Accurately weigh 2 to 5 g of an analytical sample, place in an aluminum weighing dish (previously dried and accurately weighed), dry at 135 ± 2 ° C. for 2 hours, and cool in a desiccator Thereafter, the weight was accurately measured, and the water content was determined from the difference in weight before and after drying.

<Appearance evaluation>
The shape and size of the cut product were visually observed and evaluated according to the following evaluation criteria.
A: The shape and size of the cutting are uniform, and the cutting has flexibility.
B: A cut having a uniform shape and size was obtained, but a cut smaller than a cut having a uniform size was also obtained. Cuttings have flexibility.
C: A cut having a uniform shape and size can be obtained, but is slightly lacking in flexibility.
D: Includes foreign substances, and the size of the cut material is slightly varied.
E: There is considerable variation in the size of the cutting.
F: It contains impurities and cannot be cut thin.
G: The fragrance is easy to fly, and when sprinkled on other pet food, it easily falls from the gap between the food particles.

<Evaluation of familiarity with other pet foods 1>
10 g of the pet food (sprinkled) obtained in the Examples and Comparative Examples was replaced with another pet food (pet food for cats manufactured by Unicharm Co., Ltd., trade name "Neko Genki Fish and Meat Mix", granules of food grains) (9.5 x 8.5 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm in thickness of food granules) Sprinkle on 190 g, mix for 30 seconds, and visually observe the familiarity of sprinkling on other pet foods. Was evaluated.
A: Sprinkle is well adapted to other pet foods.
B: Some sprinkles are not familiar with other pet foods.
C: Some pet foods are not familiar with other pet foods.
D: Sprinkle is not familiar with other pet foods.

<Evaluation 2 for familiarity with other pet foods>
10 g of the pet food (sprinkled) obtained in the Examples and Comparative Examples was replaced with another pet food (pet food for cats manufactured by Unicharm Co., Ltd., trade name "Neko Genki Fish and Meat Mix", granules of food grains) 190 g) (9.5 x 8.5 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm in thickness of hood granules), mixed for 30 seconds, and sieved with a sieve with openings of 10 mm. The amount of sprinkling that did not pass through the sieve was measured, and the ratio to the total amount of sprinkling sprinkled on other pet foods (total sprinkling amount) was determined.
Then, the material passed through a sieve having an opening of 10 mm was sieved through a sieve having an opening of 7 mm, and the amount of sprinkling having passed through the sieve was measured to determine the ratio to the total amount of sprinkling.
In addition, other pet foods pass through a sieve having an opening of 10 mm, but do not pass through a sieve having an opening of 7 mm.

[Example 1]
The crude material (bonito) containing impurities was sifted using a 4 mm sieve. The material passed through the sieve having an opening of 4 mm was further washed out using a sieve having an opening of 2 mm (a washing step). What passed through a sieve with a mesh size of 2 mm was used as a fish raw material (bonito).
Fish raw materials, processed starch as a plant-derived raw material, soybean oil as a fat and oil, glycerin as a humectant, fish extract and chicken extract as a palatability improver, antioxidants, preservatives, coloring agents, binders as additives The adhesive and the like were mixed at the ratio (mass%) shown in Table 1 to obtain a mixture (mixing step).
The obtained mixture was extruded into a rod shape using an extruder equipped with a die having a length of 7 mm and a width of 7 mm (molding step).
The obtained molded body was steamed and heated at a temperature of 100 ° C. for 10 minutes (heating step).
The molded body after heating was cut so that the length in the longitudinal direction became 20 cm (cutting step).
The molded body after cutting was dried at a temperature of 80 ° C. for 8 hours (drying step). The water content of the molded article after drying was measured to be 17% by mass.
The molded body after drying is cut in the width direction using a shaving machine so that the thickness becomes 0.1 to 0.15 mm, the size of the cut surface is 7 mm square, and the shape of the cut surface is square. A certain pet food, which is an aggregate of a plurality of cuttings, was obtained (cutting process).
About the obtained pet food, the appearance evaluation and the familiarity with other pet foods were evaluated. Table 1 shows the results.

[Example 2]
In the cutting process, a pet food, which is an aggregate of a plurality of cut materials, was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the cut was performed obliquely with respect to the width direction of the molded body using a commercially available bonito shaving machine. did. Table 1 shows the results. In addition, the size of the cut surface of the obtained cut material was 7 mm in width, 10 to 20 mm in length, and the shape of the cut surface was rectangular.

[Examples 3 to 5]
In the mixing step, a pet food as an aggregate of a plurality of cuttings was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the amount of each raw material was changed so as to be a value shown in Table 1. Table 1 shows the results.

[Example 6]
Except for using a crude material (white fish) containing impurities in place of the crude material (bonito) containing impurities, a pet food, which is an aggregate of a plurality of cut products, was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. Manufactured and evaluated. Table 1 shows the results.

[Comparative Example 1]
Commercially available bonito flakes (water content: 17% by mass) were cut using a commercially available bonito knives, and a pet food as an aggregate of a plurality of cut pieces was manufactured and evaluated. Table 2 shows the results.

[Comparative Example 2]
The crude material (bonito) containing impurities was sifted using a 4 mm sieve.
The material passed through a 4 mm mesh sieve was kneaded to the extent that it could be molded, and then molded into a rod shape.
The obtained molded body was heated, cut and dried in the same manner as in Example 1.
The dried molded body (kneaded knot) is cut obliquely to the width direction of the kneaded knot using a commercially available bonito kneader so that the thickness becomes 0.4 mm. A pet food was manufactured and evaluated. Table 2 shows the results.
In addition, when a part of the passing material that passed through the sieve having the mesh of 4 mm was collected and passed through the sieve having the mesh of 2 mm, impurities remained on the sieve having the mesh of 2 mm.

[Comparative Example 3]
The cut product obtained in Comparative Example 1 was further pulverized to obtain a powdered pet food.
About the obtained pet food, the appearance evaluation and the familiarity with other pet foods were evaluated. Table 2 shows the results.

[Comparative Example 4]
The crude material (bonito) containing impurities was sifted using a 4 mm sieve.
A pet food as an aggregate of a plurality of cuttings was manufactured and evaluated in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the passing material passed through a sieve having an opening of 4 mm was used as a raw material for fish. Table 2 shows the results.
In addition, when a part of the passing material that passed through the sieve having the mesh of 4 mm was collected and passed through the sieve having the mesh of 2 mm, impurities remained on the sieve having the mesh of 2 mm.

As is clear from Table 1, from each of the examples, a pet food having a uniform shape and size was obtained. The pet food obtained in each of the examples was easily familiar when sprinkled on other pet food.
In particular, in the case of Examples 1, 3 to 6 in which the molded body was cut in the width direction, pet foods having uniform shapes and sizes could be manufactured with good yield.
Moreover, when Examples 1 and 3 were compared, the use of oils and fats facilitated the production of supple cuts and was easier to adapt to other pet foods.

On the other hand, the pet food of Comparative Example 1 obtained by cutting bonito had a considerable variation in shape and size. In addition, familiarity with other pet foods was poor.
In the case of Comparative Example 2 in which the kneaded node was cut, no foreign matter was used, and the kneaded node contained impurities that did not pass through a sieve having an opening of 2 mm. Was. In addition, the shape and size of the cuttings also varied, and the familiarity with other pet foods was poor.
Since the pet food of Comparative Example 3 was in the form of a powder, the fragrance was easy to fly, and when sprinkled on another pet food, it easily fell from the gap between the food particles, and the familiarity with other pet food was poor.
The pet food of Comparative Example 4 using a fish raw material that does not pass through a sieve having an aperture of 2 mm had irregularities in shape and size because the molded product contained impurities that did not pass through a sieve having an aperture of 2 mm. In addition, familiarity with other pet foods was poor.

Claims (10)

After sifting the raw fish raw material using a sieve having an opening of more than 2 mm, the passing material having passed through a sieve having an opening of more than 2 mm is sifted using a sieve having an opening of 2 mm or less to obtain a fish raw material. ,
A mixing step of mixing the fish raw material with a plant-derived raw material to obtain a mixture,
Extrusion molding the mixture, a molding step to obtain a block-shaped molded body,
To have a a cutting step of cutting said molded body in a direction perpendicular to the extrusion direction of the molded body, pet food manufacturing method of. In the flattening step, after the raw fish raw material has been flattened using a sieve having an aperture of 4 to 6 mm, the passing material having passed through a sieve having an aperture of 4 to 6 mm is subjected to a flattening using a sieve having an aperture of 1 to 2 mm, The method for producing a pet food according to claim 1, wherein a fish raw material is obtained. The method for producing a pet food according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the mixture contains 30 to 85% by mass of a fish raw material and 10 to 20% by mass of a plant-derived raw material. The method for producing a pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a heating step of heating the molded body before the cutting step. The pet food manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising, before the cutting step, a drying step of drying the molded body so that the water content is 10 to 30% by mass. The method for manufacturing a pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein in the cutting step, the molded body is cut so as to have a thickness of 0.01 to 0.3 mm. The method for producing a pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the mixture contains 2 to 5% by mass of fats and oils. The method for producing a pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the mixture contains a humectant in an amount of 1 to 10% by mass. The mixture is glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamins, at least one health functional component selected from the group consisting of minerals, and amino acids containing 0.1 to 10 mass%, any one of claims 1-8 3. The method for producing a pet food according to item 1. The method for producing a pet food according to any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the mixture contains 0.1 to 20% by mass of a palatability enhancer.