Oxidation

Pet food usually has a minimum shelf life of 12 months. In this period the product quality and palatability needs to be stable. Antioxidants can be added in the production process to prevent the fats from going rancid and to preserve the level of vitamins and other valuable important ingredients that are added to the pet food.

Oxidation is the irreversible chemical reaction in which oxygen reacts with feed and feed components. The oxidation of feed ingredients is a common problem in the feed industry that leads to:

• - The breakdown/degradation of oils, fats, pigments, proteins and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K
• - The loss of palatability
• - The loss of feeding value
• - The development of toxic metabolites

Feeding oxidized feed to animals can result in decreased pet health. Therefore it is crucial to prevent oxidation of feed and feed ingredients.

ProTain™ antioxidant additives

Perstorp’s solution to the problem of oxidation is an antioxidant product line called ProTain™. ProTain™ products prevent the start of the chemical reaction that initiates the oxidation of valuable nutrients, resulting in an improved nutritional value. The main benefits of ProTain™ are:

• - Prolonged product shelf-life through ingredient stabilization.
• - Protection of nutritional value and organoleptic quality.
• - Highly efficient synergistic combinations of (natural) antioxidants with chelators.
• - Maximal dispersion and efficacy of the antioxidant through optimal physical properties.

The efficacy of antioxidants depends on the type of feed or feed component that needs stabilizing, the storage conditions of the feed or feed component (temperature, presence of metal ions, presence of light) and the dosage rate of the antioxidant. Oxidation is a complex process which demands specialized advice. To achieve the maximum protection of your feed or feed components it is recommended to seek advice from our application specialists.