Effects of container type and size on thermal processing characteristics and B-vitamin retention of canned cat food

INTRODUCTION: Rigid cans were the traditional container for canned cat foods, but semi-rigid trays/tubs and flexible pouches are popular options as well. Despite this, little is published on the effects of canned cat food container characteristics on thermal processing and retention of B-vitamins. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effects of container size and type on thermal processing and B-vitamin retention. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Treatments were arranged in a factorial with two container sizes [small (85–99 g) and medium (156–198 g)] and three container types (flexible, semi-rigid, and rigid). A canned cat food formula was prepared, filled, and sealed into containers before retort processing to a heating cycle target lethality of 8 min. Internal retort and container temperatures were used to calculate accumulated lethality. Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, cobalamin, and moisture contents were analyzed in pre- and post-retort samples by commercial laboratories. Thermal processing metrics were analyzed (SAS v. 9.4; SAS Institute, Cary, NC) with the fixed effects of container size, container type, and their interaction. Dry matter basis B-vitamin contents were analyzed with container size, container type, processing stage, and all two-way and three-way interactions as fixed effects. Means were separated using Fisher's LSD at a P-value < 0.05. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Total accumulated lethality was greater (P < 0.05) for semi-rigid and flexible containers (average 14.99 min) than for rigid containers (12.86 min). The greater processing of semi-rigid and flexible containers was likely influenced by required retort settings. Thiamin and riboflavin contents decreased (P < 0.05) by 30.4 and 18.3%, respectively, due to retort processing. Niacin, biotin, and cobalamin were not affected (P > 0.05) by processing. Processing increased (P < 0.05) pantothenic acid (9.1%), pyridoxine (22.6%), and folic acid (22.6%). This was likely caused by sampling or analytical variation. No interaction involving processing stage was significant for any B-vitamin (P > 0.05). B-vitamin retention was not influenced by differences in thermal processing caused by the packaging treatments. Thiamin and riboflavin were the only B-vitamins meaningfully impacted by processing and retention was not improved by any container characteristic.