Table 2.

Invention patents of palatants used in pet food.

Types of Palatant	Origin of Palatant	Pet Type	Food Types	How to Use	Major Claim	Country of Patent Applicants	Patent Name	References
1. Fat		Dogs	Dry pet food	Applied as external coating (post-extrusion), inner inclusion in granule	Improved palatability, softness, and texture through multilayered coating	Russia (RU)	Attractive fodder for domestic animals and methods for improving attractiveness of fodder for domestic animals	Mars Incorporated. (2016) [6]
2. Protein	Egg	Dogs and Cats	Dry pet food	Applied post-extrusion using fluidizing mixer	Enhanced palatability and nutritional value via protein–palatant–fat coating system with reduced thermal degradation	United States	Process for making a pet food in the form of a coated kibble	Corrigan (2017) [46]
3. Protein		Dogs	Dry pet food	Palatants were sprayed on dry base food (DS-A) at 0.2% w/w for testing; preference measured via 2-pan test	Innovative method for evaluating pet food preference using mapped sensory analysis and preference data to optimize formulation without requiring humans to consume pet food	Japan	Method for evaluating food preference of pets	Mikami et al. (2017) [8]
4. Fatty acid Yeast Amino acid		Dogs and Cats	Dry pet food	Applied as topical coating Blended into food formulation	Improved palatability and acceptance by combining fatty acid esters, amino acids, and yeast-based flavor systems	International	Methods and Compositions for Palatable Pet Foods	Nestlé Purina PetCare Global Resources Inc. (2024) [47]
5. Protein digests Fats		Dogs and Cats	Dry pet food	Internal inclusions added before extrusion External coating post-extrusion Layering optimized using multistep application system	Enhanced sensory experience and palatability through spatially distinct placement of palatants (inside and outside the kibble); mimics meaty textures and flavors	Canada	Methods and Systems for Making Food	Nestlé Purina PetCare Centre (2019) [7]
6. Vitamin D3 Vitamin B1 Fat	Maillard precursors	Dogs and Cats	Dry, semi-moist, and wet pet foods	Added by coating or inclusion (before processing); optional heat-treatment to improve flavor development (e.g., Maillard reaction)	Improved palatability through vitamin-based enhancers in combination with carriers and flavor precursors; adaptable to various food forms and species	South Korea (KR)	Palatability Enhancers for Pet Food, Method of Preparation and Uses Thereof	Cayeux, L. (2016) [48]
7. Protein Fat Probiotics Vitamins	Egg white Whey	Dogs and Cats	Dry pet food	Post-extrusion coating in fluidizing mixer	Enhanced palatability, nutrient delivery, and stability through sequential, multilayer coating with functional and flavor-enhancing components	Australia	Pet Food in the Form of a Coated Kibble	Sunvold and Corrigan (2016) [49]
8. Amino acid		Cat	Dry, semi-moist, and wet cat foods	Applied as coating or internal inclusion; optionally heat-treated (80–200 °C for 10 s to 210 min) to generate Maillard-derived aroma and flavor compounds	Improved palatability in cat food using a fat-free system based on amino-carbonyl Maillard reaction products; adaptable to various moisture levels and food formats	Japan	Preference Improver Containing Amino Reactant and Carbonyl Compound for Use in Cat Food	Nestec S.A. (2017) [50]
9. Fat		Dogs and Cats	Dry pet food	Palatants added at various process stages Post-extrusion coating	Improved and consistent palatability by timing palatant addition at key production points; reduced loss of aroma compounds and improved consumer acceptance	International	Process for Making Pet Food	Corrigan, P. J. (2012) [52]
10. Meat analogues formed	Alginate–calcium gelation	Dogs and Cats	Wet pet food	Forms meat-like structures pre-retort Mixed with gravy containing palatants	Preparation of retort-stable, striated, restructured meat analogues using alginate–calcium gelation, suitable for canned/gravy-style pet foods	United States	Process for Preparing a Pet Food Composition	Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc. (2020) [53]
11. Fat	Animal fats Plant fats	Cats	Dry pet food	Fat incorporated internally and coating post-extrusion	Enhanced palatability by controlling specific fat ratios from animal and plant sources; formulation shown to outperform standard kibbles	Japan	Specific Fat Fraction Containing Palatable Cat Kibble	Nestlé S.A. (2020) [54]
12. Protein Fat	Poultry by-products Fish materials, dried whole egg, yeast	Cats	Dry pet food	Palatants included in formulation and also applied post-extrusion as coating	Enhanced palatability through optimized nutritional composition and targeted coating with attractant palatability agents	Japan	Taste Dry Cat Food and Method for Producing the Same	Nestlé S.A. (2017) [55]
13. Protein hydrolysates Reducing sugars Fat	Wheat gluten Lactose Glucose	Dogs and Cats	Dry and wet pet foods	Mixture incorporated during production or applied post-processing	Improved palatability by generating desirable Maillard reaction products from plant-based protein, sugar, and lipid systems	International	Processed Food Such as Petfood with Improved Palatability	Nestlé S.A. (2014) [5]
14. Emulsified meat-based matrix	Ground animal muscle Fat Plasma	Dogs and Cats	Wet pet foods	Meat emulsion prepared and cooked into stable chunks or paste and mixed with gravy containing palatants	Improved palatability, texture, and water retention in wet pet foods via emulsified meat matrices	Canada	Meat Emulsion Products, Methods of Making Such Products and Pet Foods Containing Such Products	Nestlé Purina PetCare Centre (2017) [56]
15. Palatant concentration		Dogs and Cats	Dry and wet pet foods	Palatants integrated into each life-stage-specific formula or adjusted in level to drive voluntary intake	Life-stage-specific animal diets optimized in nutrient profile and optionally palatant concentration, enhancing selection and compliance through human–animal life stage visual cues	Netherlands	Compositions and Methods for Providing a Life-Stage Appropriate Animal Diet	Iams Europe B.V. (2020) [51]