MANNHEIM, GERMANY — Functional ingredient manufacturer BENEO recently announced its new low-glycemic syrup — BeneoCarb S — for semi-moist and moist pet food or treats. Derived from sugar beet, the syrup is designed to offer producers a natural alternative to traditional ingredients such as glucose syrup or caramel.
Using BENEO’s smart carbohydrates, including Palatinose™ (isomaltulose) for human nutrition, BeneoCarb S was designed to keep up with rising consumer demand for healthier pet foods and rising numbers of overweight and obese pets. According to BENEO, incorporating low-glycemic carbohydrates in pets’ food can help with blood glucose levels and weight management. BeneoCarb S features high levels of the low-glycemic disaccharides isomaltulose and trehalulose, which generate lower glycemic and insulinemic responses, according to the company.
Apart from its nutritional value, BeneoCarb S is also very easy to handle and process due to its low viscosity, making it a strong technological option for pet food manufacturers, according to the company. Additionally, BENEO found through testing that the ingredient has strong browning properties and can have a positive influence on the palatability of pet food products it’s used in. BENEO also found that its water activity-reducing effect and antioxidative properties can improve the stability of pet food and limit the growth of microorganisms.
“Interestingly, despite inflation, and rising costs of pet food, pet owners don’t want to compromise on ingredient quality, nutritional value, taste and health claims,” said Maygane Ronsmans, product manager of animal nutrition at BENEO. “With owners prioritizing the health of their companion animals, producers of pet food need to incorporate functional ingredients that can deliver proven nutritional and technical benefits. BeneoCarb S enables producers to create healthier pet foods and snacks, that are naturally colored and taste great.”
According to BENEO, the new ingredient supports its goal of decreasing waste and increasing circularity principles. Already considered a high-value ingredient in livestock feed applications, BeneoCarb S is included in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials as “isomaltulose molasses.”
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