{"id":8196,"date":"2022-06-06T13:34:32","date_gmt":"2022-06-06T06:34:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.primotrading.co.th\/?p=8196"},"modified":"2022-06-06T15:25:19","modified_gmt":"2022-06-06T08:25:19","slug":"functional-pet-food-ingredients-on-the-rise-as-health-minded-owners-seek-nutritional-benefits-for-furry-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.primotrading.co.th\/th\/articles-th\/functional-pet-food-ingredients-on-the-rise-as-health-minded-owners-seek-nutritional-benefits-for-furry-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"Functional pet food ingredients on the rise as health-minded owners seek nutritional benefits for furry friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Functional pet food ingredients on the rise as health-minded owners seek nutritional benefits for furry friends” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left”][vc_column_text]Functional ingredients \u201cover and above\u201d general nutrition needs have seen \u201cdynamic growth\u201d in pet foods recently, with increasingly health-minded owners seeking-out similar benefits for furry family members, Nicole Paley, deputy CEO at the UK’s Pet Food Manufacturers\u2019 Association (PFMA) told Ingredients Network.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]One area of \u201csignificant growth\u201d is pet food ingredients and products which target microbiome health, said Paley, whose trade body PFMA represents members of the UK\u2019s pet food industry.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Health awareness and the desire to use nutrition for health benefits is \u201cbecoming paramount\u201d for consumers, \u201cparticularly amongst the younger generation,\u201d said Paley, referring to a 2019 report from Chicago-based market analyst\u00a0NielsenIQ<\/a>\u00a0which suggests that ingredient and product attributes have become a key focal point among consumers.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201cThis correlates positively to a growing trend of humanisation in the pet industry,\u201d said Paley.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople see their pets as family members and are prepared to spend more on pet food and pet-related products,\u201d she added, citing a 2020\u00a0consumer trends report<\/a>\u00a0from Rotterdam-headquartered asset management company Robeco.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Growing scientific evidence for nutritional health benefits a driver<\/strong><\/h4>\n

In combination, the fast pace of innovation and new product development in the small animal nutrition space in recent years can also be attributed to growing volumes of scientific data linking nutrition with health, she said.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]\u201cThrough extrapolating such information from human data, and\/ or taking specific studies in pets, this enables the manufacturer to direct diet towards health and well-being support.\u201d<\/p>\n

Together, the factors have driven big changes for pet food offerings, moving from \u201cbasic pet foods that provide the right nutrients in the right proportions to more sophisticated pet foods,” said Paley.<\/p>\n

“As the science in human and pet nutrition continues to grow, pet food manufacturers incorporate the latest knowledge in their product research and development.”[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Increasingly common functional pet food ingredients<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A selection of \u201cdietetic\u201d foods are now recommended for pets with \u201cunique health conditions\u201d that either include or exclude certain ingredients, for instance with recipes designed to control mineral content and urinary pH for animals with urinary tract health problems, those to control diabetes and those targeting liver and heart conditions.<\/p>\n

These product design aspects can include calorie density, kibble shape and texture, said Paley.<\/p>\n

However, beside such diet-specific formulations, there are a host of key functional ingredients are now commonly found in pet foods, she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are over and above general nutritional requirements delivered by a complete food (protein, amino acids, fat, [fatty acids], minerals, trace elements and vitamins) which might support claims like \u2018with Calcium for strong teeth and bones\u2019,\u201d said Paley.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Functional ingredients now commonly found within the pet food aisle include:<\/strong><\/p>\n