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EP-4734771-A1 - FISH FEED WITH LOW CONTENT OF MAILLARD PRODUCTS

EP4734771A1EP 4734771 A1EP4734771 A1EP 4734771A1EP-4734771-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing a fish feed by an extrusion process comprising the steps of preconditioning the feed composition to reach a pasting temperature, adjusting the pH to 5.0-6.5 by adding at least one acid, incorporating at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant, extruding, drying, and coating the feed; a fish feed produced according to the method; and use of the fish feed.

Inventors

  • KONRADSEN, Bernt Kyrre

Assignees

  • K-Bionutrient AS

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240628

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . A method for producing a fish feed, the fish feed is produced by an extrusion process of a feed composition, comprising the steps of preconditioning the feed composition, wherein the preconditioned feed composition reaches a pasting temperature, adjusting the pH comprising adding at least one acid to the feed composition in an amount to obtain a pH in the range of 5.0 to 6.5, adding at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant in a quantity equal to or greater than an AGE-formation potential, extruding the preconditioned feed composition, drying and coating the fish feed, wherein adjusting the pH and adding the at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant are performed before or as part of the preconditioning, during the reactive phase of the extrusion process which is defined by the AGE-formation potential.
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the AGE-formation potential is defined by the contents of reducing sugars plus amino acids of the feed composition and extrusion process parameters comprising temperature, pressure, and moisture content.
  3. 3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pH adjustment is performed before or simultaneously as the addition of at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant.
  4. 4. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one acid is selected from the group comprising ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, y-oryzanol, sulfite, citric acid, lactic acid, propionic acid, phosphoric acid, and acetic acid.
  5. 5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one acid is citric acid.
  6. 6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant is selected from the group comprising ascorbic acid, ferulic acid, y-oryzanol, sulfite, and citric acid.
  7. 7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant is sulfite.
  8. 8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the feed composition is preconditioned for 30-300 seconds, and the pasting temperature is in the range of 60-95°C.
  9. 9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the preconditioned feed composition is extruded for 10-60 seconds, and the temperature at the exit of the extruder is in the range of 100-140°C.
  10. 10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the quantity of the at least one acid added to the feed composition is in the range of 0.5-3 wt%, calculated on the whole extrusion mass.
  11. 11 . The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the quantity of the at least one AGE-inhibiting antioxidant added to the feed composition is in the range of 0.5-4 wt%, calculated on the whole extrusion mass.
  12. 12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the feed composition comprises a total carbohydrate content in the range of 15-35%, and a protein to fat content ratio in the range of 9:5 to 40:38.
  13. 13. A fish feed produced according to the method of any of claims 1-12, wherein the pH of the fish feed is in the range of 6-7.
  14. 14. A fish feed according to claim 13 for feeding fish selected from the group comprising eels, catfish, tarpon, tuna, halibut, flounder, trout, cod, herring, salmon, salmonids, bream, char, whitefishes, brass, tilapia, yellowtail, and carp.
  15. 15. Use of the fish feed according to any of claims 13-14 for preventing bone deformities and improving fish health.

Description

Fish feed with low content of Maillard Products Field of the invention The present invention relates to aquaculture, such as salmon farming and sea bass farming. More specifically, the invention relates to fish feed production in industrial scale, and health of fish in aquaculture. Background of the invention [0001] In many parts of the world, aquaculture is a large industry, often vital for providing food for an ever-increasing population. Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and marine plants are examples on what is produced by aquaculture. Currently, about 50% of all seafood is produced by aquaculture. Asian countries dominate the list of the largest producers. However, aquaculture of salmon and other salmonids, sea bass and other species are large industries in many countries outside Asia. For example, in Norway, about 1 .3 million of metric tons of salmon was produced by aquaculture in 2023, requiring about 1 .56 million of metric tons of fish feed for salmon in Norway alone. [0002] The fish feed must be rich in nutrition, including nutrients, antioxidants and other contents required for the fish. Additionally, the fish feed must be feasible for industrial mass production, transport, handling, and storage if the resulting production cost shall be favorable, and aquaculture of for example salmon shall be economical viable. [0003] Since about 1980 fish feed for salmonids have been produced by extrusion. However, when fish feed production by extrusion became industry standard in about 1980, it was discovered that the antioxidant vitamin C, added as ascorbic acid in the feed for extrusion, was lost in the finished feed pellet product. The problem was solved by replacing ascorbic acid with a stable version of vitamin C, namely C- monophosphate. This resulted in a final feed pellet product with healthy composition, including rich contents of vitamin C, meeting all requirements with respect to nutrition contents, in addition to feasibility for mass production and stability for handling and storage. Since all requirements for the fish feed have been met since about 1980, a prejudice exists in the fish farming aquaculture industry that the fish feed quality is maintained and there is no reason to believe that the fish feed can have a significant role with respect to fish health. [0004] On the websites and in other publications from the fish farming industry, or in publications from governments and other regulatory bodies, there seems to be no reason to believe for the industrial scale and fish feed producers or industrial scale fish farmers that the feed has a significant role with respect to fish health, since all regulatory requirements are met. Diseases and health problems are rather related to viruses, bacteria, parasites like salmon lice, too closely packed volumes of biomass, and stress reactions from the fish due to handling and weather issues. Instead, the health situation apparently is improving, since disease outbreaks have been reduced by 30%, from 1990 to 2007, despite the data from 1990 include fewer known diseases, cf. the Norwegian Seafood Federation. By the industry and government, fish health issues are apparently linked to environmental factors only. [0005] Despite massive efforts to improve fish health, the mortality of salmon farming is still far higher than what should be acceptable and is apparently increasing. In 2023, 65 million salmon died in Norwegian fish farms, and increase from 58 million salmon in 2022. The mortality rate is above 15%, despite billions of Norwegian kroner (NOK) spent for achieving a reduced mortality and improved fish health. Figures for diseases and health problems are probably quite similar. [0006] Patent publication EP 2445358 B1 relates to pigments in fish, and a related fish feed with pigment retention effect, as related to high carotenoid contents in the form of 10 to 40 mg of astaxanthin per kg fish feed. The purpose is to receive a positive quality evaluation and a positive cost factor, resulting in a commercial advantage, by red colored fish flesh and good skin color and shine. Fish health, such as healthy bone structure or tendency of inflammation are not linked specifically to the fish feed. Brief summary of the invention [0007] The method of the invention relates to a method for producing an extruded fish feed. [0008] More specifically, the invention provides a method for producing a fish feed, wherein the method comprises steps wherein process aids are added to the fish feed composition in the reactive phase to inhibit or reduce the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGE). Thus, the invention further relates to an extruded fish feed with a reduced concentration of AGEs. [0009] In one aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing a fish feed, where the fish feed is produced by an extrusion process of a feed composition, comprising the steps of preconditioning the feed composition, wherein the preconditioned feed composition reac