ISSUE FOCUS FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE December 2022 33 Today, more than ever, the informed and well-educated pet parents would like to secure ample and nutritious food with sustainable origins for their animal companions. A growing proportion of pet owners are seeking after novel products and scientifically-backed premium formulas that while are green, sustainable, and clean-labelled, address specific health concerns including inflammation and immune function, dental care, eye and vision acuity, mental and cognitive function, musculoskeletal health, and in general support a healthier pet aging. Considering the market evolution, one would assume that the time is not far away when the current human-specific nutrition trends (e.g. personalized diets and individually customized food formulas) will dominate the pet food market. NOVEL HUMAN-GRADE INGREDIENTS FROM SUSTAINABLE SOURCES MEET MARKET DEMANDS It is worth reminding that not all plant-based are sustainable, and that sustainability is not only about low climate impact. As the global animal health association (Health for Animals) states, humans’ future is clearly intertwined with animals and the environment. All three share “One Health”. What affects one, will affect the others. This is why improving the health of animals can strengthen efforts to achieve the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 (3). Having such commitment in mind, increasing number of pet owners are providing their companion animals with daily dose of dietary supplements to assure sufficient intakes of nutrients that otherwise are not easily obtained through ordinary diets. Carotenoids are among the natural ingredients that are attracting growing attention in pet food segment. They are yellow, orange, and red organic pigments with antioxidant properties that are produced by plants and algae, as well as several bacteria, and fungi. Among them, astaxanthin is the pigment that causes the bright orange-to-red color in the shells of shrimp and crab, and in the muscles of salmon and trout (4). In nature, unicellular microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis produces the highest concentrations of astaxanthin. H. pluvialis is found in marine ecosystems, from arctic marine environments to common freshwater rock pools around the world. Natural astaxanthin is one of the strongest antioxidants known to science. This phytonutrient with
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