Abstract The object of the invention is to provide an improved proteinaceous food product and a process for preparing it. The current commercial production of proteinaceous food products often employs the use of reducing sugars under conditions which result in the loss of protein quality due to the Maillard reaction. The present invention improves upon these food products and provides a process for stabilizing the protein quality of them. According to the invention, an effective amount of a non-essential free amino acid is incorporated into the food composition to save the protein quality from degradation. A preferred group of products are intermediate moisture products, particularly pet foods, which contain reducing sugars such as corn syrup and high fructose corn syrup to serve as water binders. The preferred non-essential amino acid additive according to the present invention is glycine and its soluble salts.
An improved proteinaceous, nutritionally-balanced pet food composition containing a protein content of from 15 to 25% by weight, at least about 8% by weight reducing sugar and from 15% to 50% by weight of moisture, said reducing sugar and moisture being present in amounts normally susceptible to causing the loss of protein quality and further containing glycine or a soluble salt thereof in an amount of from about 0.25% to 1% by weight and effective to stabilize the protein quality.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
An improved proteinaceous, nutritionally-balanced pet food composition containing a protein content of from 15 to 25% by weight, at least about 8% by weight reducing sugar and from 15% to 50% by weight of moisture, said reducing sugar and moisture being present in amounts normally susceptible to causing the loss of protein quality and further containing glycine or a soluble salt thereof in an amount of from about 0.25% to 1% by weight and effective to stabilize the protein quality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An improved pet food composition according to claim 1 wherein the reducing sugar comprises a member selected from the group consisting of fructose, dextrose, glucose, maltose, corn syrup, and honey.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An improved pet food composition according to claim 1 which comprises having a PER of 2.5 or greater.