Beneo’s plant-based protein toolbox set to shake up growing pet nutrition market

16 Jun 2023 --- Beneo unveils its pet nutrition toolbox for manufacturers and producers that features vital wheat gluten for texture and rice- and fava bean-based protein concentrates for growth. According to the company, each offering provides specific nutritional and technical benefits and can be incorporated into wet and dry formulations to meet the growing plant-based and hybrid pet food trends.

The toolbox’s ingredients address several pet nutrition needs, including digestion health, metabolic support, healthy coats and fur and cognition. Karel Thurman, commercial director for animal nutrition at Beneo, notes that recent company research reveals one in three pet food purchasers consider plant-based ingredients to be “a lot healthier.”

“At the same time, pet food manufacturers are increasingly being faced with lower availability and price volatility, mainly for meat (co)products,” says Thruman.

“As a result, many producers are willing to explore new protein sources and diversify their portfolio.”

Perfecting pet-specific proteins
Beneo highlights that its rice ingredient contains an 80% protein density and several essential amino acids, including cysteine, tyrosine, methionine and phenylalanine, which are necessary for metabolic processes and healthy growth. The ingredients are hypoallergenic and easily digested, making them well-suited older pets and puppies.

Moreover, it is hypoallergenic and easily digested – making it well-suited for pets with sensitivities, older pets and puppies. The company further emphasizes that the protein source targets dog and cat owners seeking allergen-free pet foods and clean label ingredients.

The company also reveals that its fava bean protein concentrate, which is listed in the EU Catalog of Feed Materials, serves as an alternative to grain and soy proteins while being rich in the amino acids lysine, glutamine and arginine. 

Beneo further explains that glutamine supports intestinal cell wall growth for pet digestion and arginine has been shown to improve cognition and brain health.

“In addition, fava beans benefit from strong sustainability credentials related to their cultivation, Beneo’s local sourcing and production process,” says Thruman. “These elements are key, considering that more than half of pet owners say they pay attention to sustainability and the carbon footprint as part of their pet food purchasing decisions.”

Tantalizing textures
Beneo further touts the added benefits of its vital wheat gluten ingredient, noting that it also has a protein density of 80% and amino acids but also has viscoelastic properties which can improve the textures and chunkiness of wet pet foods and increase the extrusion of dry ones.Karel Thurman, commercial director for animal nutrition at Beneo. 

“Thanks to its excellent water absorption capacity, it also increases juiciness in semi-moist or wet pet food and is, therefore, a valuable alternative to spray-dried plasma,” Thruman elaborates.

The ingredient also helps to maintain fur color and promotes a healthy coat.

Sustainable and digestible
The company spotlights that its plant-based proteins offer a “high to very high” nutrient absorption for pets due to their increased digestibility. 

Beneo’s internal analysis found the rice and fava bean protein concentrates achieved digestibility scores close to 90%, while the vital wheat gluten scores exceeded that amount. 

Thruman also notes that Beneo’s “longstanding nutritional and technical expertise” provides producers the ability to develop innovative recipes that speak to the growing consumer demand for natural and sustainable options.

By William Bradford Nichols