Multi-component pet food and method of manufacturing solid component

Abstract

The invention concerns multi-component packaged food products which have been thermally processed to achieve commercial sterility in a package, including at least a first component and a second component in contact with (eg immersed in) the first component, wherein said first component is comprised of a substantially water-based, liquid, pasty or gelled food such as sauce, gel, gravy, jus or the like, and wherein the second component consists of one or more relatively hard, manufactured pieces that substantially retain their initial shape and hard or crunchy textural functionality for at least an expected shelf-life of the product whilst exposed to the moisture content of the first component.

1 . A multi-component packaged food product which has been thermally processed to achieve commercial sterility in a package, including at least a first component and a second component in contact with (eg immersed in) the first component, wherein said first component is comprised of a substantially water-based, liquid, pasty or gelled food such as sauce, gel, gravy, jus and the like, and wherein the second component consists of one or more relatively hard, manufactured pieces that substantially retain an initial shape and crunchy textural functionality for at least an expected shelf-life of the product whilst exposed to the moisture content of the first component. 
     
     
         2 . A multi-component packaged food product which has been thermally processed to achieve commercial sterility in a package, including at least first and second components, wherein said first component consists of a wet phase comprising water and other edible substances and having a water activity of above 85 and which at ambient temperature will typically have a liquid, viscous or gelled consistency, and wherein said second component comprises solid phase pieces at least partially surrounded by the first component and which have separate and distinct physical characteristics from the wet phase component, characterised by the solid phase pieces comprising a manufactured matrix of inorganic but edible mineral salts formed into a shape-stable object exhibiting a bulk water activity value of 0.75 or below prior to thermal processing of the packaged food product. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 1 , wherein the second component pieces have an initial moisture content of less than 10.0% w/w prior to incorporation into said first component. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 1 , wherein prior to thermal processing, the difference in water activity between said first component and said second component pieces is in the range 0.10 to 0.20. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 1 , wherein the first component has a water activity of at least 0.9. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 1 , wherein the second component solid phase pieces are substantially formed by a process of compression. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 1 , wherein the second component pieces comprise a matrix of inorganic material, preferably including calcium mineral salts, and more preferably a matrix comprised of calcium hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 7 , wherein one or more materials selected from the group consisting of nutraceutical actives, pharmaceutical actives, vitamins, functional minerals, dentifrices and chelating agents are incorporated into the calcium hydroxyapatite pieces. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 7 , wherein palatant substances such as food starches, sugars and the like are incorporated into the pieces or are present on the tabletted calcium hydroxyapatite pieces. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 7 , wherein the calcium hydroxyapatite is formulated and manufactured by dry blending of tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium sulphate (CS), preferably in a ratio of about 2TCP:1CH:1CS, subsequent addition of water and appropriate tritration and neutralization using a food-grade acid to an about neutral pH value, followed by optional conditioning of the resulting slurry prior to drying and granulating. 
     
     
         11 . A food piece for incorporation in a thermally processed multi-component wet packaged food product, said food piece being formed substantially from a matrix of calcium mineral salt, preferably calcium hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         12 . The food piece of  claim 11 , having a moisture content of less than 10.0% w/w prior to incorporation in the food product. 
     
     
         13 . The food piece of  claim 11 , additionally incorporating one or more materials selected from the group consisting of nutraceutical actives, pharmaceutical actives, vitamins, functional minerals, dentifrices, chelating agents and food palatants. 
     
     
         14 . The food piece of  claim 11 , wherein the food piece is substantially formed by a process of compression tabletting. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a hard pet food piece for inclusion as a component in a packaged multi-component wet pet food product, comprising the steps of dry blending of tri-calcium phosphate (TSP), calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium sulphate (CS), subsequent addition of water and appropriate titration and neutralization using a food-grade acid, to an about neutral pH value, followed by optional conditioning and maturing of the resulting slurry at specified temperature conditions and for a predetermined time, followed by drying and form-shaping into a crunchy piece having a moisture content no greater than 10% w/w. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 2 , wherein the second component pieces have an initial moisture content of less than 10.0% w/w prior to incorporation into said first component. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 2 , wherein prior to thermal processing, the difference in water activity between said first component and said second component pieces is in the range 0.10 to 0.20. 
     
     
         20 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 2 , wherein the first component has a water activity of at least 0.9. 
     
     
         21 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 2 , wherein the second component solid phase pieces are substantially formed by a process of compression. 
     
     
         22 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 2 , wherein the second component pieces comprise a matrix of inorganic material, preferably including calcium mineral salts, and more preferably a matrix comprised of calcium hydroxyapatite. 
     
     
         23 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 22 , wherein one or more materials selected from the group consisting of nutraceutical actives, pharmaceutical actives, vitamins, functional minerals, dentifrices and chelating agents are incorporated into the calcium hydroxyapatite pieces. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 22 , wherein palatant substances such as food starches, sugars and the like are incorporated into the pieces or are present on the tabletted calcium hydroxyapatite pieces. 
     
     
         25 . The multi-component packaged food product of  claim 22 , wherein the calcium hydroxyapatite is formulated and manufactured by dry blending of tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), calcium hydroxide (CH) and calcium sulphate (CS), preferably in a ratio of about 2TCP:1CH:1CS, subsequent addition of water and appropriate tritration and neutralization using a food-grade acid to an about neutral pH value, followed by optional conditioning of the resulting slurry prior to drying and granulating.