Why Choose Food Research Lab's FRL as Your Food Product Development (FPD) Consultant and Partner?

There are several options in almost every product area in today’s market, and the difficulty is in coming up with unique items that stand out and connect with customers. Food Research Lab's Food Research Lab (FRL) takes a holistic approach to creating food and beverage products. We define, demographically target, and build effective goods through a sequential process for category selection and comprehension. The client can visit the lab to learn the process. We offer unlimited rounds of revisions to ensure customer satisfaction. The final product prototype, along with the documentation process, including the video (through email), will be shipped to the client, and in case the client is not satisfied with the video, a food technology consultant will visit the place for the product demo at the client’s costs.

What are the different forms that you deliver the Food Product Formulations?

The food industry is witnessing a new form of consumption. Keeping that in mind, we can formulate the products in the form of ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix, ready-to-serve, and ready-to-cook food products. We use ingredients that offer an added value to the development and improve its indulgence and sustainability in terms of its functional ingredients, plant-based food dyes, and natural preservatives with a clean label.

What are the sectors Food Research Lab cover?

We cover a wide range of sectors such as soups, sauces and dips, chips, tortillas, dry beverage powder, plant-based products, masalas, puddings, instant mixes and many more.

How is sensory testing been carried out?

Our sensory examination leads to the precise formulation and recipe recommendations. We develop data-driven design models based on sensory research and customer insights. The fact-based design methodology used by Food Research Lab reduces risk and gives our clients market confidence while cutting development time in half. With our dedicated sensory lab facility, our team takes satisfaction in creating and optimizing successful products in the marketplace, generating a favourable return on investment, and developing brand advocates.

Semi-moist pet foods, while occupying a smaller market share compared to dry and canned foods, offer a convenient and palatable option for pet owners. These foods strike a balance between high moisture content and shelf stability, achieved through specialized processing methods and strict quality controls. Let’s explore the unique characteristics, production methods, and post-manufacturing quality assessments of semi-moist pet foods.

Semi-Moist Pet Food: A Balanced Approach to Nutrition and Palatability

Interesting News . Nov 21, 2024

Semi-moist pet foods, while occupying a smaller market share compared to dry and canned foods, offer a convenient and palatable option for pet owners. These foods strike a balance between high moisture content and shelf stability, achieved through specialized processing methods and strict quality controls. Let’s explore the unique characteristics, production methods, and post-manufacturing quality assessments of semi-moist pet foods.

Characteristics of Semi-Moist Pet Food

Semi-moist pet foods typically contain 25-35% moisture, giving them a softer texture than dry food while still being more shelf-stable than wet food. This intermediate moisture level enhances palatability, making semi-moist foods particularly appealing to pets.

Humectants and Moisture Control
- To manage water content and prevent spoilage, semi-moist foods incorporate humectants—compounds that retain moisture while inhibiting bacterial and mold growth. Common humectants include glycerin and propylene glycol, which bind to water and help maintain product consistency.
- Acidification: Acids are also used to lower pH, creating an environment less conducive to bacterial growth and further stabilizing the food.
Palatability and Nutritional Profile
- Semi-moist foods are typically low in fiber but may contain higher sugar levels, which enhance their taste and appeal to pets. However, this composition may not be suitable for weight-control diets that rely on fiber content to promote satiety.

Types of AAFCO Feeding Trials

Adult Maintenance Trial

Protocol: This trial includes eight animals fed solely on the test food for six months. Animals are examined by a veterinarian at the beginning and end of the trial, with ongoing monitoring for body weight and potential signs of nutrient imbalances.
Laboratory Evaluations: Key health markers, such as red blood cell count, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, and whole blood taurine (for cats), are assessed to detect any nutritional deficiencies or excesses.
Benefits: This trial can reveal nutrient deficiencies or other safety issues that may not be evident in formulations alone, although longer-term deficiencies might not be detected in this relatively short trial.

Production Process of Semi-Moist Pet Food

The manufacturing process for semi-moist pet food is similar to that of extruded dry food but is adapted to maintain higher moisture levels. The controlled use of humectants and preservatives helps maintain food safety and inhibit spoilage despite the elevated water content.

Mixing and Extrusion
- Ingredients are blended and extruded with a focus on maintaining higher water content. Unlike fully dry foods, which undergo more extensive dehydration, semi-moist foods retain more water for a softer texture.
Moisture and Water Activity Management
- Moisture control in semi-moist pet food is achieved through “water activity” (a_w), which measures the amount of water available for microbial growth. Although the overall moisture is higher, humectants effectively lower water activity, reducing the risk of spoilage.
Addition of Preservatives
- To further extend shelf life, mold and bacterial inhibitors are added. These preservatives work alongside humectants to create a product that is both soft and resistant to spoilage.

Quality Control and Post-Manufacturing Assessments

Maintaining nutrient stability and safety is a critical aspect of producing semi-moist pet foods. FRL emphasizes rigorous quality controls that include:

Nutrient Testing and Stability Checks
- After production, nutrient levels are tested to account for any potential losses that occurred during processing. Both short-term and long-term stability tests are conducted to assess nutrient retention over the product’s shelf life.
Shelf-Life Testing
- Semi-moist foods are stored in various environmental conditions to evaluate stability under different temperatures and humidity levels. This ensures that the product remains safe and nutritionally adequate until it reaches consumers.
Monitoring Nutrient Bioavailability
- While laboratory analyses confirm nutrient levels, they do not guarantee bioavailability—the extent to which nutrients are absorbed by the pet. Post-production quality assessments focus on confirming that the nutrients remain accessible for digestion, ensuring nutritional adequacy beyond mere content measurement.

The Value of Semi-Moist Food in Pet Nutrition

Semi-moist pet foods offer a practical and appealing choice, especially for pets with specific dietary needs or picky eating habits. However, the specialized manufacturing and preservation processes involved require meticulous attention to detail to balance palatability, shelf stability, and nutritional adequacy.

With Food Research Lab’s Semi-Moist Pet Food Development Services, you can be assured that every aspect of formulation, production, and quality control is optimized to meet high industry standards. Our Ingredient Analysis and Nutrient Testing ensure that your semi-moist pet food products are not only palatable but also safe, stable, and nutritionally beneficial for pets.