Abstract: Bacteriologically stable, semi-moist proteinaceous food products, of lower concentration of conventional humectants and consequently higher acceptability to consumers, such as domestic pets, are obtained by including as at least part of the water-soluble humectant content low molecular weight polypeptide materials. Examples of suitable materials are condensed fish solubles and fish or meat autolysates. Especially preferred are compositions including acidified polypeptide sources and which consequently have pH values in the range 3.5 to 5.5 and have water activities in the range 0.85 to 0.95. Minor proportions Nf conventional humectants such as sugar or polyhydric alcohols can be included. Compositions of pH 5.5 to 7 and water activity 0.75 to 0.85 can also be preferred. Products may include heat-coagulable binders such as gluten or albumen and be formed with subsequent cooking into coherent pieces. Burger type products can also be formed from pasteurized meats without subsequent cooking.

Abstract: A novel, highly nutritious, protein-rich, solid food product comprises fermented and autolyzed proteinaceous material, usually meat, fish or other animal tissue, bound into coherent pieces by a gelled or coagulated binder and stabilized against microbiological activity by an acid pH value, preferably below 5.5. The starting material is comminuted, an acid-producing fermentation culture, for example of Lactobacillus species, is added with fermentable carbohydrate, and the mixture incubated until the pH value has fallen to 4 or below. A coagulable or gellable binder, such as gluten or xanthan gum, is then incorporated, preferably also with antimycotic, and the product shaped, for example by extrusion, and cooked.

Abstract: The invention concerns food products in the form of bite-sized particles coated with a flavored coating. The characteristic of this invention is a coating containing condensed fish solubles on a core of less palatable material usually of cereal or vegetable protein origin. Cereal or other vegetable cores, for example in the form of biscuit pieces, can be sprayed with condensed fish solubles and molten fat to produce a food product which is highly acceptable to cats and dogs.

Abstract: A novel, protein-rich food product, especially suitable for domestic animals, is made by subjecting protein material such as meats or fish to acid-producing fermentation, and preferably also to autolysis or proteolysis, and adding the acidic fermented material to a colloidal solution of protein, such as milk or soya milk, whereupon the diposed protein is precipitated and forms a curd that entraps and binds the particles of fermented material. The curd and entrapped material are separated off and compacted into a coherent mass. The product, which is a compacted mass of the precipitated protein with particles of the fermented material distributed through it, can have the consistency of a cheese and may be formed into "cheese" shapes. The flavor of the product is influenced by the nature of the fermented material.

Abstract: Uncooked meat or simulated meat is preserved, while retaining its substantially raw appearance and characteristics, by infusion with sufficient edible water soluble solute to stabilize it against microbiological spoilage and packing the infused material in the absence of oxygen, for example, under an inert gas or a vacuum. The meat or other animal tissue may be treated to inhibit enzyme activity without cooking or denaturing the protein, especially in the case of meat products of high enzyme activity. Infusion can be carried out at low temperature, for example -20.degree. to -5.degree. C, but preferably at 15.degree. to 40.degree. C for a period of 4 to 6 hours. Alternatively, the raw starting material can be sealed in a package with an aqueous solution of sufficient solute, infusion then taking place within the sealed package. A protein sweetmeat for pet animals can be prepared by infusion meat pieces with sugar and thereafter dusting the pieces with solid sugar.