Food Composition Comprising Germinated Seeds or Grains FI ELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a food composition having probiotic and prebiotic properties that includes germinated seeds or grains. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Promoting the health of pets by providing a nutritionally balanced diet is extremely important to pet owners. Pet foods that provide acceptable levels of vitamins, proteins, carbohydrate and fats are available in the marketplace. Pet foods are also increasingly available that provide a diet that includes essential fatty acids and fiber.

It is well known that prebiotics have nutritional benefits in foods. Prebiotics are non-digestible elements in foods that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the digestive system. This results in health benefits. Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide digestive benefits. Lact ic acid bacteria and bi fidobacteria are known to provide probiotic benefits. It would therefore follow that it would be beneficial to the health of pets to include prebiotic and probiotic ingredients in a pet food. There is therefore a need for a pet food having a prebiotic and probiotic ingredient having health benefits for pets. In preparing pet foods, the nutritional benefits of prebiotic and probiotic ingredients can be compromised by several processing factors incl uding speci fic ingredients used in the formulation and exposure to heat during the cooking process. It is especially di fficult to preserve the prebiotic and probiotic activity o f the food given that commonly used preservat ives in foods kill the beneficial bacteria that provide a probiotic effect. In addition, conventional cooking techniques for pet foods also kill lactic acid bacteria and bi fidobacteria.

Since pet foods generally contain meat products, it is necessary to ensure that the pet food is processed in a manner that prevents the proli feration of pathogenic bacteria. It is a further challenge to formulate pet foods in manner that permits the survival of at least some probiotic bacteria while preventing the proli feration of pathogenic bacteria. There is a need for a pet food composition and a method for making same, having ingredients that that allow for the preservation of probiotic. prebiotic and other nutritional benefits of foods through processing and cooking while preventing the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a probiotically and prebiotically active food composition comprising a germinated seed or grain. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a probiotically and prebiotically active food composition comprising a germinated seed or grain; a ground dry carbohydrate, probiotic bacteria, and a humectant. Preferably, the food composition is substantially free of added salts and refined sugars. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a probiotically and prebiotically active food composition comprising the following steps:

providing a pre-mix composition comprising a germinated seed or grain; a ground dry carbohydrate; probiotic bacteria and a humectant; blending the pre-mix composition with water; mixing the pre-mix composition to form a food composition; and cooking the food composition in an oven at an internal temperature of the food composition of not greater than about 120°C for about 10 minutes to 20 minutes.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of preparing a probiotically and prebiotically active food composition comprising the following steps:

providing a pre-mix composition comprising a germinated seed or grain; a ground dry carbohydrate; probiotic bacteria and a humectant; blending the pre-mix composition with water; mixing the pre-mix composition to form a food composition; pasteurizing the food composition in a first oven /one. the first oven /one being set to create an internal temperature of the food composition of between 90°C and 120°C; cooking the food composition in a second oven /one. the second oven /one being set to create an internal temperature of the food composition of between 70°C and 120°C; and cooking the food composition in a third oven /one. the third oven /one being set to create an internal temperature of the pet food composition of between 50°C and 120°C. IN THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a table showing the content of microorganisms including lactobacil lus. in a semi- moist pet food of the present invention at various time intervals of storage; and

Figure 2 is a table showing the content of microorganisms including lactobacillus. in a dry biscuit pet food of the present invention at various time intervals of storage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INV ENTION

The present invention is a food composition. The food composition of the present invention includes edible food composit ions including complete foods which provide a nutrit ionally balanced diet and food supplements which include pet treats in the case of pet foods. The food compositions of the present invention are preferably pet foods that are formulated for dogs and cats. The food compositions can be formulated for other animals. I n addition, the food compositions of the present invention can also include food compositions for human consumption. The food composition will be described hereafter as a pet food composition. It is to be understood that the following descri ption of the pet food composition can also apply to human food compositions and food compositions for cats, dogs and other animals.

The present invention includes a probiotically and prebiotically active food composition. A prebiotically active food composition is a food composit ion that includes an ingredient that stimulates the growth of healthy bacteria such as bi fidobacteria and lactobacilli in the gut and increases the resistance of the human or animal consuming the food composition to invading pathogens. A probiotically active pet food composition is a pet food composit ion that includes added live microorganisms that provide digestive benefits. Such microorganisms include lactic acid bacteria and bi fidobacteria. Within the meaning of the present invention, a probiotically active food composition is a food composition that has a sufficient amount of live beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and bi fidobacteria after processing and cooking the food composition to provide digestive benefits to the human or animal that consumes the food composition.

Prebiotics are a dietary fibre that trigger the growth of bacteria having favourable effects on the intestinal flora. The preferred prebiotic ingredients for the purposes of the present invention are germinated seeds or grains. The most preferred prebiotic ingredient is germinated flax seed or sprouted flax seed. The terms "germinated seed ^" and "sprouted seed ^" have equivalent meanings. Germinated seeds and grains that are suitable for the pet food composition of the present invention include chia seed. rice, whole grain wheat, oat. buckwheat, broccoli seed, carrot seed. ad/Liki bean, almond, amaranth, annatto seed, anise seed, argula. basil, brown rice, navy bean, pinto bean, lima bean, cabbage canola seed, caragana. cauliflower, celery, chick peas, chives, c i 1 an t ro/c o ri an de r/dh an i a. clover, cress, dill fennel, fenugreek, garlic, hemp. kale, kamut, kat. leek, green lentil, lupins, pearl millet, mi/una. mustard, onion, black-eyed peas, green peas, pigeon peas, snow peas, peanut, psyllium, quinoa. radish, rye. sesame, soybean, tatsoi. triticale. water cress and wheat berries.

In addition other acceptable prebiotic ingredients include inulin. FOS ( fructooligosaccharide). MOS ( Mannooligosaccharide). The germinated seeds or grains can be provided in raw, dehydrated, ground, granulated or powdered form. In addition to the probiotic and prebiotic benefits, the preferred germinated seed, germinated flax seed, provides a source of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. The pet food composition includes about 1% to about 20% by weight of germinated seed or grains. Preferably, the pet food composition includes about 1%-10% by weight of germinated seed or grains. Most preferably, the pet food composition includes about 5% by weight of germinated seed or grains. In the preferred embodiment, germinated seed or grain is in the form of ground flax seed.

The pet food composition includes a ground dry carbohydrate which is preferabK in powdered form. The preferred ground dry carbohydrate is a grain flour which is preferably ground barley flour or ground amaranth flour. Other grain flours such as wheat flour or rice flour may be used. Alternatively, the ground dry carbohydrate can be a product of ground seed. Preferably, the pet food composition includes 10% to 90% by weight of the ground dry carbohydrate Most preferably, the pet food composition includes about 40% to about 50% by weight of the ground dry carbohydrate The pet food composition of the present invention includes a humectant. The most preferred humectant is molasses. A preferred humectant is honey. Other acceptable humectants incl ude gelatin, glycerol and sorbitol. Preferably, the pet food composition includes about 1% to about 30% by weight of the humectant. Most preferably, the pet food composit ion includes about 13% to 14% by weight of the humectant.

The pet food composition of the present invention preferably includes an edible oil which is preferably a vegetable oil. The preferred vegetable oil is Canola oil. Preferably, the pet food composition includes about 1 % to about 30% by weight of the vegetable oil. Most preferably, the pet food composition includes about 5% to 12% by weight of the vegetable oil. Alternatively, another non-aqueous liquid could be used in the place of the oil.

The pet food composition of the present invention may also include an emulsi fier. The preferred emulsi fier is vegetable lecithin.

The pet food compositions preferably include a meat product such as. but not limited to. chicken, salmon or beef. Because the pet food preferably includes meat, it is necessary to formulate and cook the pet food composition in a manner that prevents the proli feration of pathogenic bacteria associated with meats but without preventing the growth of the beneficial probiotic bacteria.

Other ingredients include ground oats, ground brown rice and sweet potato.

The pet food composition has vitamins and minerals includin Dicalcium Phosphate. Vitamin E Acetate, Choline Chloride. Zinc Sulphate. Vitamin A Pal mi tat e. Vitamin D3 Supplement. Copper Sulphate. Vitamin B2. Calci um Pantothenate, Mixed Tocopherols and Beta Carotene.

An important property of the pet food composition is the water activity. Water activity is a measure of water content. In the present context, this value represents how much water is available to support bacterial growth. For the purposes of the present invention, it is important to formulate the pet food composition such that the water acti vity is at a level that favours the growth of beneficial bacteria such as lactic acid bacteria and bi fidobacteria over pathogenic bacteria. Beneficial bacteria are generally more robust than pathogenic bacteria. Hence a water activity is selected that is adequate for the growth of beneficial bacteria while not necessarily being ideal. At the preferred water activity level, the beneficial bacteria will survive at a significantly greater rate than the pathogenic bacteria. The proliferation of beneficial bacteria over the pathogenic bacteria will kill off the pathogenic bacteria due to their inability to compete with the beneficial bacteria. Water activity values of 0.1 to 0.8A _W are acceptable for the purposes of the present invention. The preferred range is 0.2 to 0.6 A _w.

Conventional food preparation techniques employ preservatives and other ingredients that eliminate bacteria and other microbes, such as fungi, from foods. Such techniques are not acceptable for preparing a food product that is probiotically active. However, an acceptable preservative for the food composition of the present invention is kern trace Zinc plus, kern trace Zinc plus is preferably included in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 0.3% by weight of the composition. Most preferably, the pet food composition includes about 0.15% by weight of kem trace Zinc plus. Other acceptable preservatives are liquid tocopherols. Liquid tocopherols are preferably included in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 2% by weight of the composition. Most preferably, the pet food composition includes about 0.09% by weight of liquid tocopherols.

It is important that the pet food composition include levels of ingredients such as salts, refined sugars, and acidic ingredients such as vinegar that do not prevent the growth of beneficial bacteria. The pet food composition should include less than 1% by weight of added salt and less than 3% by weight of refined sugar.

The pet food composition preferably has a pH of about 6.5.

The pet food composition may be formulated as a dry or semi-moist pet food. Preferably, the pet food composition of the present invention is formulated as dry baked biscuits or semi-moist biscuits. The pet food composition may also be formulated as a dry or semi-moist kibble, pet treats with or without flour, which may be dry. moist or semi-moist. Additionally, the pet food composition can be formulated as a homogenous mixture, or could contain distinct particles, a coating or a filling. The dry formulation preferably has 5-30% crude protein. 1-25% crude fat. 5-25% crude fiber, and 2-20% moisture.

The semi-moist formulation preferably has 5-30% crude protein. 1-25% crude fat. 5-25% crude fiber, and 2-30% moisture. Preferred semi-moist and dry biscuits of the present invention have a fructooligosaccharide concentration of about 10.71mg/g. In addition, the preferred semi-moist and dry biscuits of the present invention have a mannoohgosaccharide concentration of about 8.65mg/g. The amount of inulin in the preferred the semi-moist and dry biscuits is about O. lOmg/g.

In the preferred embodiment of the food composition, bacterial culture is added as a source of probiotics. The preferred added probiotic bacteria are lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Preferably, the bacterial culture in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 0.5% by weight of the composition is added to the food composition. Most preferably, the amount of added bacterial culture is about 0.3% by weight of the composition. In embodiments that do not include added probiotic culture, the food composition nevertheless includes at least one type of beneficial or probiotic bacteria emanating from other ingredients of the food formulation such as the meat product. Preferably, the food composition has both lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. As shown in Figure 1. the embodiment of the food composition formulated as semi-moist biscuits has a content of lactobacillus ranging from 805,000 colony forming units (cfu) at week 1 to 790,000 cfu at month 12. As shown in Figure 2, the embodiment of the pet food formulation formulated as dry biscuits has a content of lactobacillus ranging from 666,000 cfu at week 1 to 790,000 cfu at month 12.

To process and cook the pet food composition in order to make dry baked biscuits or semi-moist biscuits in the form of an end product to be consumed by a pet. a pre-mix comprising all of the ingredients of the pet food composition are blended with enough warm water for processing, in a mixer for approximately 5 minutes to form a food composition. Typically about a 300kg batch of the food composition is mixed with enough water for processing where the temperature of the water is in the range of 50°C to 120°C.

After the mixing step, the resulting food composition is delivered to a rotary molder for pressing. Preferably, the rotary molder has a small rectangular die. The pressing step produces a formed food composition.

The formed food composition is then preferably sequentially delivered through individual /ones of an oven preferably having at least three /ones. An acceptable oven for the purposes of the present invention is an indirect flame three /one oven. Preferably, a pasteuri/ation step is then applied to the food composition. This step is for the purpose of reducing the amount of pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella that may be present in the food composition while preserving enough of the beneficial bacteria to allow the food composition to be probiotically active. Hence some bacteria are killed but not all. This allows the later cooking steps to be carried out at a lower temperature than would otherwise be needed to eliminate pathogenic bacteria.

The pasteuri/ation step is applied to the food composition in the first /one of the oven. Preferably, the first /one of the oven is set at a temperature of between 220°C to 343°C and provides a resulting internal temperature of the food composition of between 90°C to 120°C. The preferred internal temperature for the dry formulation is between 90°C to 100°C. The preferred internal temperature for the semi moist formulation is between 90°C to 120°C. The food composition is preferably kept in the first /one for about 4 minutes to 7 minutes.

Cooking steps are carried out in the second and third /ones of the oven. The food composition is preferably delivered the second /one of the oven. Preferably, the second /one of the oven is set at a temperature of between 120°C to 315°C and provides a resulting internal temperature of the food composition of between 70°C to 120°C. The preferred temperature for the dry formulation is between 70°C to 90°C. The preferred temperature for the semi-moist formulation is between 90°C to 120°C The food composition is preferably kept in the second /one for about 4 minutes to 7 minutes.

The food composition is then preferabK delivered the third /one of the oven. Preferably, the third /one of the oven is set at a temperature of between 120°C to 315°C and provides a resulting internal temperature of the food composition of between 50°C to 120°C. The preferred temperature for the dry formulation is between 50°C to 90°C. The preferred temperature for the semi-moist formulation is between 90°C to 120°C The formed food product is preferabK kept in the third /one for about 4 minutes to 7 minutes.

It is also possible to carry out the cooking step in a single oven. For a single oven, it is acceptable to set the oven at a temperature of between 220°C to 343°C to provide a resulting internal temperature of the food composition of between 90°C to 120°C. The food composition is preferabK kept in the oven for about 10 minutes to 20 minutes. The moisture content of the food composition is reduced down to an optimum level of preferably between 10% and 18% using both the oven and a cooler drier. The food composition is preferably packaged in plastic bags with minimum barriers associated therewith. A preferred package is Regular PET / M ET PET / 500ga Poly having an oxygen

2/

transfer rate of cc/ 100 in 24 hrs. The preferred moisture vapor transfer rate of the package is (g/100 in ² /24 hrs ). A metal film has the following speci fications: 48g PET/48g PET MET/2.50 mil PE Clear MVTR 0.04 OTR 0.05. An appropriately sized oxygen scavenger pouch is provided for the package si/e.

The shel f li fe of the food composition is preferably 12 months or greater.

EXAMPLES

The following are examples of the pet food composition formulated as dry baked biscuits with the content of the elements of the compositions shown in terms of percent by weight.

Dry Baked Biscuits

Example 1 Example 2

Fresh Breath and Tarter Control Sensitive Stomach

Green Tea and Mint Chicken and Rice

% by % by

Ingredient weight Ingredient weight

Ground Barley Flour 27.00 Ground Barley Flour 27. 1 7

Ground Flax 15.00

Seed Ground Flax Seed Flour 15.10

Germinated Flax Seed 5.00 Germinated Flax Seed 5.03

Chicken 15.00 Chicken 15.10

Ground Oats 13.00 Ground Oats 14.09

Ground Brown Rice Flour 13.00 Ground Brown Rice Flour 13.08

Molasses 8.00 Molasses 8.05

Canola oil 1.00 Canola oil 1.01

Bacteria Culture 0.3 Bacteria Culture 0.3

Lecithin 0.33 Lecithin 0.37

Kem Spec Zinc Plus 0.1 Kem Spec Zinc Plus 0.1

Vitamin and M ineral 0.60 Vitamin and M ineral 0.60 Dicalcium Phosphate Dicalcium Phosphate

Vitamin E Acetate Vitamin E Acetate

Choline Chloride Choline Chloride

Zinc Sulphate Zinc Sulphate

Vitamin A Pa Imitate Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin D3 Supplement Vitamin D3 Supplement

Copper Sulphate Copper Sulphate

Vitamin B2 Vitamin B2

Calcium Pantothenate Calcium Pantothenate

Liquid Tocopherols 0.09 Liquid Tocopherols 0.09

Green Tea 0.5

Mint 0.5

GiiaranteedAnalysis GiiaranteedAnalysis

Crude Protein 0.10 Minimum Crude Protein 10.0% Minimum Crude Fat 0.05 Minimum Crude Fat 5.0% Minimum Crude Fiber 0.14 Maximum Crude Fiber 14.0% Maximum Moisture 0.12 Maximum Moisture 12.0% Maximum

Example 3 Example 4

Healthy Eyes and Heart Hip and Joint

% by % by

Ingredient weight Ingredient weight

Ground Barley Flour 27. 1 7 Ground Barley Flour 26.06

Ground Flax 14.09

Seed Ground Flax Seed 15.04

Germinated Flax Seed 5.03 Germinated Flax Seed 5.01

Salmon and carrot 15.10 Chicken 15.04

Ground Oats 13.08 Ground Oats 11.03

Ground Brown Rice Flour 10.06 Ground Brown Rice Flour 9.02

Molasses 13.08 Molasses 14.03

Canola oil 1.01 Canola oil 1.00

Bacteria Culture 0.3 Bacteria Culture 0.3

Lecithin 0.32 Lecithin 0.31

Kem Spec Zinc Plus 0.1 Kem Spec Zinc Plus 0.15

Vitamin and M ineral 0.60 Vitamin and M ineral 0.60

Dicalcium Phosphate Dicalcium Phosphate

Vitamin E Acetate Vitamin E Acetate

Choline Chloride Choline Chloride

Zinc Sulphate Zinc Sulphate

Vitamin A Palmitate Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin D3 Supplement Vitamin D3 Supplement

Copper Sulphate Copper Sulphate

Vitamin B2 Vitamin B2

Calcium Pantothenate Calcium Pantothenate

Liquid Tocopherols 0.09 Liquid Tocopherols 0.09

Chondroitin 05

Glucosamine 15 Sweet Potato 3.01

GiiaranteedAnalysis GiiaranteedAnalysis

Crude Protein 0.10 Minimum Crude Protein 10.0% Minimum Crude Fat 0.05 Minimum Crude Fat 5.0% Minimum Crude Fiber 0.14 Maximum Crude Fiber 14.0% Maximum

Moisture 0.12 Maximum Moisture 12.0% Maximum

Example 5

Immune Booster

Ingredient weight

Ground Barley Flour 22.95

Ground Flax 13.97

Seed

Germinated Flax Seed 4.99

Chicken 13.97

Ground Oats 11.97

Ground Brown Rice Flour 9.98

Molasses 14.02

Canola oil 1.00

Apples 2.99

Blueberries 2.99

Bacteria Culture 0.3

Lecithin 0.32

Kem Spec Zinc Plus 0.15

Vitamin and M ineral 0.60

Dicalcium Phosphate

Vitamin E Acetate

Choline Chloride

Zinc Sulphate

Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin D3 Supplement

Copper Sulphate

Vitamin B2

Calcium Pantothenate

Liquid Tocopherols 0.09

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein 0.10 Minimum

Crude Fat 0.05 Minimum

Crude Fiber 0.14 Maximum

Moisture 0.12 Maximum

The following are examples of the pet food composition formulated as semi-moist biscuits with the content of the elements of the compositions shown in terms of percent by weight. Semi Moist Biscuits

Example 6 Example 7 Example 8

Healthy Hip and Joints Healthy Vitality Immune Booster

Chicken and Sweet Apples and

Potato Salmon and Carrot Blueberries

Ingredient Ingredient

Ingredient Declaration Declaration Declaration

Ground Barley Flour 25.00 Ground Barley Flour 25.00 Ground Barley Flour 25. (

Germinated Flax Seed 25.00 Germinated Flax Seed 25.00 Germinated Flax Seed 25. (

Chicken 20.00 Salmon 10.00 Chicken 20.(

Ground Oats 10.00 Chicken 10.00 Ground Oats 10.(

Ground Brown Rice 10.00 Ground Oats 10.00 Ground Brown Rice 10.(

Molasses 10.00 Ground Brown Rice 10.00 Molasses 10.(

Sweet Potato 5.00 Molasses 10.00 Canola oil 4.(

Canola oil 4.00 Carrot 5.00 Apples 3.(

Vitamin and M ineral 0.60 Canola oil 4.00 Blueberries 3.(

Dicalcium Phosphate Vitamin and M ineral 0.60 Vitamin and M ineral 0.(

Vitamin E Acetate Dicalcium Phosphate Dicalcium Phosphate

Choline Chloride Vitamin E Acetate Vitamin E Acetate

Zinc Sulphate Choline Chloride Choline Chloride

Vitamin A Palmitate Zinc Sulphate Zinc Sulphate

Vitamin D3 Supplement Vitamin A Palmitate Vitamin A Palmitate

Vitamin D3 Vitamin D3

Copper Sulphate Supplement Supplement

Vitamin B2 Copper Sulphate Copper Sulphate

Calcium Pantothenate Vitamin B2 Vitamin B2

Calcium

Mixed Tocopherols 0.40 Calcium Pantothenate Pantothenate

Beta Carotene 0.03 Mixed Tocopherols 0.40 Mixed Tocopherols 0

Beta Carotene 0.(

110.03 110.00 1 H i

GuaranteedAnalysis GuaranteedAnalysis GuaranteedAnalysis

Crude Protein 10.0% min Crude Protein 10.0% Crude Protein 10.0'

Crude Fat 5.0% min Crude Fat 5.0% Crude Fat 5.0'

Crude Fiber 14.0% max Crude Fiber 14.0% Crude Fiber 14.0'

Moisture 16.0% max Moisture 16.0% Moisture 16.0'

Example 9

Guaranteed Anal ^y sis; Crude Fiber 5-25% Crude Fiber 5-25%

Moisture 2-20% Moisture 2-30%

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the methods and apparatus disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.