Gas Chromatographic Detection of Pre-Processing Spoilage of Bacterial Origin in Pet Foods.

Gas chromatographic analysis of sterile canned pet foods revealed the presence of metabolites indicative of pre-processing spoilage. The number and type of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in each raw ingredient were determined. It was found that pre-processing spoilage was due to the action of the predominant anaerobe or anaerobes in the major ingredient by comparing the gas chromatographic profiles of the organisms with the chromatograms of the finished products. This type of spoilage was more common in pet foods manufactured by cereal companies who may use dead stock than in similar products manufactured by meat packing companies.