Pet food is a specialty food for domesticated animals that is formulated according to their nutritional needs. Pet food generally consists of meat, meat byproducts, cereals, grain, vitamins, and minerals
It is made by mixing recipe ingredients together and cooking them within the can, tray or pouch. The food in the container then remains sterile for the shelf life of the product or until opened. These products can be in the form of chunks in gravy, sauce or jelly, loaf or mousse.
The manufacturing process entails grinding and cooking the flesh and flesh byproducts. Next, the meat is mixed with the other pet food ingredients, and if the recipe requires, the mixture is shaped into the appropriate forms. The finished product is filled into containers and shipped to distributors.
Here is a general overview of the process:
Preparation of ingredients: Raw materials such as meats, grains, and vegetables are sourced, inspected, and prepared for use. The ingredients are then mixed and blended according to a recipe or formula.
Cooking: The mixed ingredients are then cooked at high temperatures to ensure that the food is safe for consumption and to improve its texture and flavor.
Cooling: The cooked food is then cooled to a suitable temperature for further processing.
Filling: The cooled pet food is then filled into cans using specialized filling machines. The cans are sealed with a lid and checked for proper sealing and vacuuming.
Sterilization: The sealed cans are then sterilized to ensure that any harmful bacteria or microorganisms are eliminated. This is typically done using still retorts with overpressure.
Cooling and labeling: The sterilized cans are then cooled and labeled with product information, including the ingredients, nutritional information, and expiration date.
Packaging: The labeled cans are then packaged into cartons or cases for distribution and sale.
In canned pet food manufacturing, a variety of machines are used to complete these stages. Some of the most common machines used in canned pet food production include:
Blenders and mixers
Cookers and kettles
Filling machines
Still retorts with overpressure
Cooling tunnels and equipment
Labeling and coding machines
Cartoning and case packing machines
In addition to these machines, quality control and safety testing equipment are also used throughout the manufacturing process to ensure that the pet food meets industry standards and is safe for consumption by pets.
• Ingredient selection
• Ingredient weighing and preparation
• Sealing and cooking
• Sealing and cooking
• Cooling and labelling
• Storage and distribution
As clients demands have evolved, we have welcomed this with open arms by diversifying longstanding product lines.