Nutrition: Page 295

Neuropeptide W’s role in mammals’ energy balance control

Neuropeptide W (NPW) is produced in neurons located in hypothalamus, brain stem and antral G cells and its receptors are present in the hypothalamus, in particular in the paraventricular nucleus. There are two forms of the peptide, designated as neuropeptide W-23 (NPW23) and neuropeptide W-30 (NPW30).

AFIA hosts 2013 Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference

The American Feed Industry Association's 2013 Purchasing and Ingredient Suppliers Conference drew 535 attendees from the petfood, animal feed and livestock industries to the two-day event, which concluded March 14 Fort Worth, Texas, USA. The conference offered opportunities to learn about the current state of the animal feed industry, providing market analyses, perspectives, hot topics and other information.

Specialty ingredients supplier adds custom blending services

The Peterson Co., a supplier of proteins, yeasts, fibers, specialty ingredients and custom dry blends to the petfood industry, established BlendCo LLC in Ottumwa, Iowa, USA. BlendCo LLC provides custom blending services specifically taking into account the quality expectations of the petfood industry.

Dead dogs used as petfood fat, protein in Spain, reports say

A criminal gang in Spain reportedly used the bodies of dogs and other animals from animal sanctuaries, vets, zoos and farms to process as protein and fats that could be used in petfood and animal feed, according to laboratory tests of commercial petfood in Spain. In 2012, Spanish police discovered a warehouse containing 15 metric tons of dead, stray dogs in the town of As Neves, Galicia, as well as similar warehouses in Northern Spain.

Which petfood nutrient values should you follow?

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Pet Food Committee accepted (with minor revision) the expert panel's recommendations to update the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) also revised its Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Dogs and Cats in July 2012, and both organizations reportedly relied in part on recommendations from the National Research Council's (NRC) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, published in 2006. Yet, the three documents deviate in their stated nutrient values, sometimes to very significant degrees. Why? Where do they differ; who should the petfood manufacturer follow?

Produce Traceability Initiative to comment on FDA product tracing pilot report

The Produce Traceability Initiative, designed to help the produce industry maximize the effectiveness of current traceback procedures, is currently developing a response to the Institute of Food Technologists’ 10 recommendations released by the Food and Drug Administration in the document, entitled, Pilot Projects for Improving Product Tracing along the Food Supply System Final Report. The Produce Traceability Initiative and its four administering organizations (Canadian Produce Marketing Association, GS1 US, Produce Marketing Association and United Fresh Produce Association) will work to collect industry feedback and commentary on each of the 10 recommendations outlined in the report.

Market Trends and Reports

Evaluating raw meat diets for captive carnivores

The study's objective was to evaluate raw meat diets for captive exotic and domestic carnivores containing traditional and alternative raw meat sources; specifically, beef trimmings, bison trimmings, elk muscle meat and horse trimmings. It aimed to examine diet composition and protein quality; apparent total tract energy and macronutrient digestibility in domestic cats, African wildcats, jaguars and Malayan tigers, and ME and fecal fermentative end-products in domestic cats.

Market Trends and Reports

The challenges of sourcing novel functional petfood ingredients

As a result of increased nutritional awareness and consumer demand for more nutritious foods made with better ingredients, we have seen in the past 25 years the emergence of the superior quality petfood segment. These novel foods are based on the inclusion of primarily natural and functional ingredients.

Mars' Sheba brand to offer sustainably sourced fish entrées for cats

Mars Petcare's Sheba brand announced that it will offer responsibly sourced fish entrées for cats in the US as part of Mars Petcare's global commitment to use only sustainably sourced fish by 2020. Following the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program sourcing recommendations, Sheba Entrées will use only farmed or wild-caught fish from environmentally responsible sources.

Hill’s launches new Ideal Balance natural petfood brand

Hill’s Pet Nutrition unveiled its new Hill’s Ideal Balance line of dog and cat food. The new petfood brand, which features natural ingredients, is the first new petfood brand from Hill’s since the launch of Science Diet in 1968.

The Honest Kitchen recalls Verve, Zeal, Thrive petfood products

Petfood maker The Honest Kitchen is recalling five lots of its Verve, Zeal and Thrive petfood products after learning that one of its raw ingredients suppliers recalled a batch of human-grade parsley contaminated withSalmonella. The parsely, shipped to the petfood company in 2012, was used as an ingredient in the five lots of petfood being recalled.

Kemin invests in food safety for petfood ingredients manufacturing

Because of the importance of high consumer confidence and the impact of the US Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act, Kemin has spent the past three years investing in the human and financial capital necessary to achieve Food Safety System Certification 22000:2010 at its Des Moines, Iowa, USA, manufacturing facility. FSCC 22000:2010, recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative, covers the manufacturing of food ingredients, including some petfood ingredients, used in further processing and is designed to provide greater confidence in food, fewer health risks, lower auditing costs, improved protection for brands and improved supply chain management.

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