Palatability
Increase Palatability with SBS Pet™
Past research has shown that cats tend to prefer food with an acid pH over neutral or alkaline foods,1 a driving factor in the use of acids in animal digest and palatability enhancers.
To determine the effects of SBS Pet™ on the palatability of cat food, a major U.S. pet food manufacturer performed a standard two-bowl palatability test utilizing twenty cats for two days at an independent animal testing facility.16 A typical chicken-and-rice-based extruded cat food containing either 0.9% sodium bisulfate (SBS Pet™) or 0.8% phosphoric acid was tested.
The cats’ first choice preference and total consumption were monitored. Data demonstrated a numerical trend toward the diet containing SBS Pet™ in both observations. In fact, the SBS Pet™ diet was chosen 2.25:1 over the phosphoric acid diet and had a 1.42:1 consumption ratio (Figures 1 and 2).
Palatability tests on animals generate information on preference and amount consumed. However, they do not tell specifics about the taste.
An Acidifier Taste Test
A flavor evaluation was conducted by Sensory Spectrum, Inc. Chatham, NJ, to compare the flavor profiles of sodium bisulfate (SBS Pet™) with citric, malic, and phosphoric acids (Figure 3).
The acid solutions were evaluated at low, medium, and high concentrations and the sodium bisulfate solution was found to have a very clean, sour flavor that was more intense than other acids. These results indicate that SBS Pet™ has a higher sour intensity than phosphoric, citric and malic acids. (Figure 4). No bitter taste was associated with sodium bisulfate or phosphoric acid.
SBS Pet™ can improve palatability with a clean, tart flavor. A higher sour intensity means lower concentrations in your pet food formulas
