Date: 20/01/2025

Pet food is becoming increasingly specialized, focusing not only on meeting nutritional needs but also on addressing pets' sensory preferences. Palatability is one of the most crucial aspects to ensure the proper acceptance and intake of pet food. With the growing demand for higher quality and more flavorful foods, pet owners are increasingly seeking food solutions that combine health, taste, and functionality. In this content, we will explore how more attractive pet foods can improve the digestive health of animals and discuss the essential role of palatability in choosing pet food.

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Why attractive foods are crucial for pet health?

According to a study by Abinpet and data from 2022, Brazil has 160.9 million pets. Therefore, the first point to highlight about food for these animals is palatability, a critical factor to ensure that pets consume the necessary amount of food for their health.

If the food is not tasty, the pet may reject it, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. On the other hand, food that is attractive and nutritious has a direct impact on the digestive health and well-being of pets.

When pets consume the right amount of food, they get the most out of essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, which are crucial for muscle development, energy, skin and coat health, and the immune system.

To ensure pets have healthy digestion, it is crucial to offer food that, in addition to being nutritious, is also tasty and appealing.

The importance of palatability in food selection

Palatability is not just about taste, but also involves aroma, texture, and temperature of the food. Dogs are known to be selective with food, with variations in olfactory epithelium size ranging from 18 to 150 cm² and 67 to 200 million olfactory cells. Therefore, a food that is unappealing to their taste or smell is likely to be rejected. It is essential for pet food to be formulated with high-quality ingredients that ensure good acceptance.

It is estimated that dogs, for example, prefer foods rich in animal proteins and fats, which are sources of high energy concentration, making these foods more attractive.

In addition, the texture of the food plays a key role, as many dogs prefer foods that offer a variety of consistencies, such as crunchy and soft, which can be achieved through the proper combination of ingredients.

How to work with formulations that increase palatability

Improving palatability involves more than just selecting good ingredients. Around 90% of dog food sold in Brazil is extruded. For this production, the enzymatic hydrolysis process is one of the most widely used techniques to create effective palatability enhancers.

This process breaks proteins down into smaller molecules, enabling bioactive peptides that promote efficient animal nutrition, facilitating digestion, and increasing the attractiveness of the food.

B.Freshfy, for example, is a palatability enhancer developed with hydrolyzed chicken and pork liver, which is particularly effective in intensifying flavor and making the food more palatable.

In addition, the Maillard reaction, applied in the production of B.Freshfy, contributes to the development of more complex and pleasant flavors for dogs, further increasing food acceptance.

This type of innovation has shown its effectiveness in study results, as the formulation ensures that the food meets the nutritional needs of pets and is more attractive to them.

It is also important to highlight how the addition of vegetable oils in pet food formulations can improve both the flavor and the digestive health of animals. Vegetable oils, rich in essential fatty acids, help with nutrient absorption and contribute to the health of pets' skin and coats.

Benefits of vegetable oil for pet health

Vegetable oil has become a popular ingredient in pet food due to its numerous benefits. These oils have anti-inflammatory properties that support the digestive health of animals, facilitating nutrient absorption and improving digestion.

Its use in pet food can be particularly beneficial for animals with sensitive coats, as essential fatty acids are known to reduce dandruff and improve skin elasticity.

By incorporating vegetable oils into pet food formulations, brands are meeting the growing demand for ingredients that not only provide flavor but also offer health benefits.

With the growing awareness about pet health, pet owners are becoming increasingly discerning about the quality of the food they buy for their animals, driving up the demand for natural, hypoallergenic, and functional foods.

According to Zicker (2008), this focus on selecting their pets' diets is tied to providing optimal nutrition and promoting the long-term health of their pets.

Functional nutrition is gaining prominence with foods that offer additional health benefits, such as improving digestion, boosting immunity, and promoting healthy coats.

Ingredients that aid in palatability: B.Freshfy

The B.Freshfy line, developed by BRF Ingredients, is a clear example of how innovation can enhance the palatability of pet food.

Produced from highly hydrolyzed enzymes, B.Freshfy has been highly effective in improving the acceptance of food by dogs. This occurs because the hydrolysis process makes the food easier to digest and more attractive to animals, especially in terms of flavor.

Furthermore, the inclusion of B.Freshfy in pet food has shown significant results in sensory testing. A study conducted with dogs, where different percentages of B.Freshfy were included in their diets, showed a preference for the enriched food, increasing both consumption and acceptance.

This result was evidenced by an increase in consumption during the first two meals of the day, with dogs showing higher acceptance of the diet (with B.Freshfy) compared to another diet option.

These results highlight the importance of using ingredients like B.Freshfy, which not only enhance flavor but also increase the digestibility of food, allowing animals to maximize the nutrients provided.

Final considerations

With the continued growth of the pet market, which has increased by over 10% in recent years, palatability has become one of the most important factors in formulating dog food.

Products like B.Freshfy, developed with high-quality hydrolysates and innovative processes, not only meet the expectations of pet owners but also provide balanced and effective nutrition for animals.

Investing in solutions that improve food acceptance is a key strategy for companies looking to succeed in the competitive pet market.