Binders/TexturizersUpdated 2 months ago

Achieving the right texture is crucial for the palatability of pet food, particularly for our feline friends. Adding binders and texturizers helps create a texture that dogs and cats enjoy eating, an appearance that pet parents appreciate, and helps keep ingredients from separating during processing, which can lead to an imbalance of nutrition.

AGAR-AGAR is naturally derived from seaweed and is used in small amounts in pet food to thicken and stabilize canned food. Agar-agar has been used in foods for over 350 years, and its natural extract originated in Japan.

ANIMAL PLASMA is derived from pork or beef during processing. Plasma, which is about 90% water, is readily separated from blood cells and dried into a nutrient-rich ingredient. Plasma is high in protein, easy to digest, and extremely palatable. It is a functional ingredient for both human and pet food that is used to improve the texture and stability of food and as a palatability enhancer.

GUAR GUM is a natural carbohydrate made from the guar bean. It is used in wet pet foods to thicken canned food and add a pleasant texture to enhance your pet’s mouthfeel experience.

LECITHIN is an emulsifier. It is an ingredient that helps blend ingredients that don’t naturally want to blend. In dry pet food, it is used to help the formula move through the processing equipment and enhance the digestibility of starches.

SODIUM TRIPOLYPHOSPHATE is a preservative that helps food have a smother texture.

STARCH is separate from a carbohydrate source and is used in pet food to thicken, gel, or stabilize wet pet food products, just like corn starch is used in human cooking and food preparation.

TAPIOCA STARCH comes from the root of the cassava plant and is used in pet food to thicken, gel, or stabilize wet pet food products, just like corn starch is used in human cooking and food preparation.