Pet food sterilization
Everything you need to know about pet food sterilization.
In this section, we focus on gourmet pet food, especially for dogs and cats—domesticated animals whose diets have evolved alongside our own.
Gourmet pet food, made with high-quality ingredients and free from preservatives or artificial colors, needs to be sterilized for commercial distribution.
Are you involved in or interested in producing gourmet food for dogs and cats? Keep reading…
Gourmet pet food: The healthiest and most natural food for dogs and cats
In the past, dogs and cats ate the same food as us—often just leftovers. However, in 1850, an American businessman, James Spratt, began producing and selling a type of crunchy biscuit for dogs made from ingredients new to canine diets, including flour, water, and salt.
From there, numerous companies and veterinarians started building on Spratt’s formula, aiming to improve it and make life easier for both animals and their owners. By the end of World War I, the first canned dog foods appeared, industrially produced and using meat from horses that had died in the war.
By the 1960s, with the establishment of the Pet Food Institute and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), processed pet food production grew to the point of almost entirely replacing raw diets. Today, however, many pet owners seek more natural products, free from preservatives, additives, and artificial colors. They look for gourmet products made with high-quality, unprocessed ingredients.
Pet food consumption
According to the 2023 annual report from FEDIAF European Pet Food, Europe is home to a total of 104 million dogs and 127 million cats. Approximately 25% of European households have at least one cat or dog, with Germany, France, and Italy leading in pet ownership within the EU.
The European pet food industry is expected to experience an annual growth rate of around 5% and a volume increase of approximately 3.5%, reaching a market value of €29.1 billion and 10.5 million tons.
Types of pet food
Currently, there are three main types of food available for dogs and cats:
Typically, dry food contains between 18% and 27% protein, 7% to 15% fat, less than 12% moisture, and between 35% and 50% carbohydrates.
It has an energy value of approximately 1,400 to 2,000 metabolizable kilocalories per 450 grams.
The primary advantage of dry food is that it is generally the most economical diet option.
Semi-moist pet food for dogs and cats provides about 16% to 25% protein, 5% to 10% fat, around 25% to 35% carbohydrates, and 30% water.
It contains between 1,200 and 1,350 metabolizable kilocalories per 450 grams.
This type of food is tastier, easier to serve, and convenient to store.
Lastly, canned food offers 8% to 15% protein in dog formulas and 12% to 20% protein in cat formulas.
Both types contain between 2% and 15% fat, with a moisture content of approximately 75%.
This option has a lower calorie content, typically between 375 and 950 metabolizable kilocalories per 450 grams.
Gourmet pet food
As we mentioned earlier, the type of food we focus on for dogs and cats here is entirely different from kibble and other industrially processed products, and it’s not frozen food either.
This food is based on high-quality ingredients, varied, pasteurized or sterilized, and packaged without artificial preservatives or colorants.
If you’re someone who thinks that all canned goods necessarily contain artificial additives and that it’s impossible for them to provide the same nutrients and minerals as homemade recipes, we recommend reading this article on common myths about canned foods.
As you might have inferred from the previous classification, the pet food we’ll be discussing here is semi-moist and canned. Although all three types consist of blends of meat and vegetables, the difference lies in how these ingredients are treated.
To commercially sell canned pet food, it must be pasteurized or sterilized in accordance with current health and hygiene regulations, ensuring it can be consumed safely.
How to make gourmet pet food
When preparing any canned food for dogs and cats, it’s essential to consider the specific metabolic needs of each species and breed to create the most suitable recipes.
As with any food preparation, thoroughly clean, chop, and cook the ingredients as desired. Finally, seal them in airtight containers and apply a thermal treatment to ensure proper preservation.
Remember, our autoclaves also allow for food cooking, so we recommend not fully cooking the pet food beforehand; let it finish cooking inside the autoclave to avoid overcooking.
Sterilization of pet food
Canned foods for dogs and cats are typically sterilized, allowing them to be stored at room temperature. However, once opened, any remaining product should be kept in the refrigerator.
Sterilization through autoclaving is an intensive thermal process that eradicates 100% of microorganisms, extending the food’s shelf life without requiring refrigeration.
In contrast, pasteurization uses lower temperatures, which only partially eliminate microorganisms, preserving more of the food’s organoleptic and nutritional properties. However, this also necessitates refrigeration and results in a shorter shelf life, typically up to three months.
As we’ve mentioned, when sterilizing your gourmet pet foods, it is essential to comply with specific food safety, quality, and hygiene regulations. This requires applying a thermal treatment using professional equipment and recording the process carried out for each batch, as our autoclave does.
pH of gourmet pet food
The pH of a food determines the temperature and time required for thermal treatment, as it affects the types of microorganisms that may grow within it. Lower pH values indicate higher acidity and fewer microorganisms, while a higher pH value allows for greater microbial growth potential.
The pH of canned dog food typically ranges from 5.5 to 6, while canned cat food is usually between 5 and 6. However, these figures are approximate, as there is no specific guide for the main pH values in canned pet foods. Each product contains different ingredients, which vary in their properties and require tailored thermal treatments.
F₀-P₀ values for sterilizing gourmet pet food
Pet foods in cans are generally sterilized at peak temperatures between 113°C and 121°C (235°F – 249°F). Although the appropriate F₀ value depends on the ingredients used, these products typically undergo thermal treatment with an F₀ value between 7 and 10. When working with organ meats, it’s recommended to slightly increase the F₀ value.
The thermal values F₀ and P₀ are influenced by the type of product, ingredients, and pre-treatment processes. To determine the ideal values for your recipe, you should measure the pH of each ingredient, perform post-process evaluations, and adjust the F₀-P₀ values accordingly to ensure optimal results for your product.
To determine the appropriate thermal treatment for your product and ensure proper preservation, we recommend consulting a microbiological laboratory. At TERRA Food-Tech®, we offer our clients access to our food consultancy service to help guarantee the quality of their products.
Common issues in pet food sterilization
It’s crucial to ensure that once sterilized, pet food for dogs and cats retains its nutrients and maintains its organoleptic properties, avoiding any unwanted changes in smell, taste, color, and texture.
To achieve this, you should:
- Use ingredients that can withstand high temperatures.
- Study the microbial load of each ingredient, focusing on the most critical one.
- Monitor the actual temperature the product reaches using a flexible probe.
Properly adjusting time and temperature will effectively eliminate the most common bacteria found in pet foods, which include:
- Salmonella – Causes gastrointestinal illnesses in both humans and animals.
- E. coli – Certain strains can cause intestinal damage.
- Clostridium perfringens – Responsible for food poisoning.
- Staphylococcus aureus – Produces toxins that lead to foodborne illnesses.
Additionally, proper storage of packaged pet foods is essential, as incorrect storage can lead to the growth of molds such as Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., which produce mycotoxins harmful to vertebrates, even in low concentrations.
Recommended containers for pet food sterilization
The most common containers used to sterilize pet food are cans, glass jars, and increasingly, pouches.
If you opt for glass jars, it’s essential to leave some headspace between the product and the lid. This space allows the food to expand during the thermal process and ensures a hermetic seal when sterilized in an autoclave.
If you’re unsure which container to use for your pet food products, we recommend carefully reviewing our article on the pros and cons of each container type. From our side, TERRA Food-Tech® assures that our autoclaves are compatible with all container types, giving you flexibility in your choice.
Pet food sterilization with TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves
TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves offer the ability to cook products before subjecting them to thermal treatments like pasteurization or sterilization. By generating counter-pressure, they prevent deformation in containers. To avoid undesirable overcooking, these autoclaves are equipped with a rapid cooling system that activates once the thermal process is completed.
If you are looking for reliability, safety, and efficiency in producing your gourmet preserves, a food autoclave is ideal.
With TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves, you can not only sterilize but also cook and pasteurize—three functions in one device.
Using our food autoclaves ensures compliance with safety, quality, and hygiene regulations for canned foods and prepared dishes. They are essential for those who wish to market these products.
TERRA Food-Tech® autoclaves were created to meet the needs of micro-entrepreneurs, chefs, cooks, farmers, livestock producers, and social enterprises who have made gourmet preserves their life’s work.
Success stories in gourmet pet food preserves
The pet food market has evolved significantly in recent years. Just as with people, we’ve realized the importance of eating well to feel well. This awareness has spurred the rise of new brands committed to working with animal nutrition specialists to develop high-quality products without artificial preservatives or colorants.
Visit our success stories section to learn firsthand from some of these brands about their experiences in producing gourmet pet food preserves.
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