Frutarom Food Protection Division has launched SubSTAR, a line of customized formulations for salmon oil oxidation management for pet foods.

The company notes that oil from fatty fish, such as salmon, is one of the best sources of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and is increasingly used in premium brands of pet foods due to its health benefits.

However, these fatty acids are, says Frutarom, unstable and can rapidly oxidize and turn rancid, and salmon and other fish oil is especially challenging. Unsaturated fatty acids, being so highly prone to oxidation, can lead to spoilage and loss of quality and reduced nutritional value, not to mention causing a rancid flavour and changes in colour. They can even develop toxic by-products.

Oxidation also leads to significant food waste due to shorter shelf-life, increased product losses, and interrupted production. When the fish oil is added to the outer layer of the kibble as palatant, it only increases application challenges in terms of oxidation risk versus when it is part of the kibble formulation.

Frutarom’s new, all-natural SubSTAR formulations are said to successfully protect salmon oil from oxidation, improve its overall stability, maintain product color, and preserve the flavor and nutritional profile.

“Available in liquid and powder form, the SubSTAR solutions are highly potent formulations, customized to fit the specific processing demands of pet food manufacturers and their raw material suppliers,” said Ohad Cohan, General Manager of Frutaroms Food Protection Division. “These formulations provide better stability and maintain oil quality, even during warm weather and prolonged periods of storage at elevated temperatures. All SubSTAR formulations provide powerful protection at low dosage. They are simple and easy to handle, added as part of a kibble recipe.”