What qualifications are needed to process and produce pet food (dog food)?——SUNSHINE Industrial

Extrusion is a crucial step in dog food processing. Extrusion is a food processing method where the food is placed in a sealed container, heated and pressurized, then suddenly depressurized. The moisture in the food vaporizes and expands, creating many small holes in the dog food, making it crisp and crunchy—this is extruded dog food. The basic principle is to suddenly depressurize the raw materials under heat and pressure, causing them to expand. Extrusion technology, as a relatively new food processing technology, originated in 1910. Its application in pet food began in the United States in the 1950s. The US was the first to use the extrusion principle to manufacture pet food, utilizing a screw and screw sleeve in an extruder to extrude the raw materials, heating and pressurizing them, and then forcing the high-temperature, high-pressure food through a die. The sudden depressurization causes rapid volume expansion.

Extrusion is also a process of shaping dog food ingredients. During shaping, water is added in the form of steam, causing the starch in the ingredients to gelatinize. The temperature is raised to 100°C~180°C. Because the pressure is very high before extrusion, it is released instantaneously during extrusion, causing the dog food to expand and foam rapidly, and the water evaporates. Therefore, dog food manufactured using this extrusion process generally has high nutritional value, is easily digestible and absorbable.

Advantages:

1. Improves palatability: Dry dog food becomes crispy after extrusion, providing a better taste and cleaning the teeth and mouth of dogs during chewing and swallowing.

2. Modifies and enhances the nutritional value of dog food: Many nutrients need to be cooked and extruded to become nutritious; otherwise, they will not only fail to provide effective nutrition to dogs but may also cause adverse reactions such as diarrhea and vomiting.

3. Improves the digestibility and absorption rate of dog food: Extruded dog food is absorbed more comprehensively and completely by dogs. Currently, even... The "double-expansion" process was developed to allow dogs to more effectively absorb all the nutrients in their dog food.

4. The extrusion and pelleting processes alter the shape and structure of the dog food, making it easier for dogs to eat and encouraging them to consume more.

5. Changing the content of different nutritional indicators in the dog food, such as reducing moisture, extends its shelf life, making it easier for pet owners to store and feed it anytime, anywhere—safer and more convenient.

6. Changing the density of the dog food; extrusion and pelleting increase its bulk density, facilitating procurement and transportation.