Plant proteins - supplying amino acids, vitamins, and minerals - are a strategic component of pet foods to ensure balanced nutrition, technological function (e.g., texturization), and cost optimization. Beyond nutrition, these affordable, plant-sourced ingredients provide many functional benefits, while their neutral taste profile makes them easy to incorporate in a variety of formulations. Cargill is increasing its offer of plant-based proteins to cater to the growing need for plant-based and hybrid solutions.
Vital Wheat Gluten (GluVital® 21040, 21060 and (pelletized) C*Propell® 21080)
Gluvital® Vital Wheat Gluten can provide a combination of functional and nutritional characteristics, making it a solution of choice especially for wet pet food. Yet it also brings benefits to dry food and treats.
It has a rich amino acid profile: e.g., high amounts of glutamine, leucine, and tryptophan, among others. It is free of anti-nutritional factors (ANF), and importantly has a low mineral content which helps to keep the diet below its maximum ash levels. It can contribute to good feces quality and should not impact palatability.
Functionality-wise, Gluvital brings great binding properties, such as:
- Improving chunk texture and bringing structure to the meat ropes
- Enhances kibble structure in dry food
- Improving the dough quality and reduce breakage risk in baked biscuit treats
It can also partially replace animal plasma, used for binding properties in chunk recipes, hence it could save costs.
- Enables protein enrichment
- Min 75% protein content – used to compose high protein formulas
- High digestibility
- Specific texturizing, binding and expansion properties
Our ingredient solutions for Pet Food