ARTICLE Alternative Proteins Magazine April 2024 41 “High-moisture by-products generated by the food industry are abundant and rich in nutrients. However, these perishable ingredients present challenges when it comes to storage, transport, handling, and utilization on the farm. Implementing a multistep process that spans every phase of the by-product lifecycle can help mitigate these challenges.” From snack foods made with insects to cultured meat grown in a laboratory, alternative proteins are emerging as viable sources for meeting dietary demands while preserving the planet’s limited food production resources. A promising approach to solving the protein production dilemma focuses on repurposing by-products from human food for use in animal feed production. Around the globe, stakeholders in the food chain ranging from breweries and bakeries to food traders and farms are discovering ways to convert food by-products from the waste stream into nutritious protein sources for use in livestock feeds. While the concept of using food by-products is not new, stakeholders’ knowledge about how to practically implement this process has been limited. Most food by-products start to deteriorate quickly, reducing nutrient value, palatability, and, most importantly, the safety of the foodstuffs. However, like many aspects of food production, science is introducing innovations to help manage these challenges and make preservation of by-products practical. Multiple studies conducted by Selko, the feed additive brand of Nutreco, have shown that highly potent buffered and non-buffered organic acid blends can preserve valuable nutrients in high-moisture by-products. Selko has a long legacy of researching the mode of action that underlies organic acids’ efficacy in animal nutrition. Multiple studies have provided insights to help develop products with demonstrated efficacy in inhibiting microorganisms, such as yeast, bacteria and moulds, and extending the shelf life of by-products and finished feeds. Below, we look at the scientific and practical aspects of collecting and reusing by-products for use as alternative protein sources. MANAGING MICROBIAL RISK IN HIGH-MOISTURE PRODUCTS High-moisture by-products generated by the food industry are abundant and rich in nutrients. However, these perishable ingredients present challenges when it comes to storage, transport, handling, and utilization on the farm. Implementing a multi-step From Waste Stream to Alternative Protein PRESERVING FOOD BY-PRODUCTS FOR ANIMAL FEED Andrea Lopez Global Product Manager Selko
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==