Wet pet food processing – How is it made?

Wet pet food packaging and sterilization: the crucial steps

After combining all the ingredients, wet pet food is transferred into its packaging- cans, trays and pouches. Sealing the packaging of wet pet food is absolutely crucial, because an airtight seal, along with proper sterilization, guarantees the product has a stable shelf life. Sterilization destroys any harmful microorganisms and wet pet food has to be sterilized at a temperature of 121.1°C.

Additives in wet pet food

Additives are often added in wet pet food to add nutrition, safety, color, taste, and viscosity to the finished product. Coloring agents such as food dyes or mineral-based colors and flavors such as extracts from fish can improve the appearance and the palatability of wet pet food. Emulsifiers keep fat in the food and water from separating, while thickeners improve the viscosity of the food.

Carrageenan is the most widely used gelling agent in wet pet food manufacturing. It is often used in combination with other thickeners like cassia gum, guar gum or locust bean gum. As for the regulations, both the FDA and the EU find carrageenan safe for both human and animal consumption if the intake is below 75 mg/kg and when used in the amount necessary as an emulsifier, stabilizer, or thickener in foods.

Wet pet food international standards and regulations

Wet pet food processing is strictly regulated around the world. No need to say that pet food must be safe to eat and must be produced under sanitary conditions. In the EU for instance, the meat used for wet pet food has to pass veterinary inspections and be fit for human consumption as well.