Patent ID: 9210945
Filing Date: 2015-12-15
Classification: A23K,A23V,B65D

Abstract:
1. An article of commerce, comprising: a package comprising a barrier, wherein the barrier has a permeability coefficient of no more than about 10 a nutritionally balanced animal food contained within the package, the animal food comprising a kibble dusted with lyophilized bifidobacteria powder a having an initial activity level; wherein the package is formed from a plastic laminate selected from the group consisting of ethylene-derived polymer, polypropylene, polyester, terephthalates, polyolefins, homopolymer and/or co-polymer polyolefins, woven polypropylene, and combinations thereof, and is effective at maintaining the activity of the active ingredient to no less than 90% of the initial activity of the lyophilized bifidobacteria powder, after 6 months of shelf life; wherein the animal food kibble comprises a core dried to a water activity of 0.1, or less, and a dusting on said core, wherein the dusting is a powder having a particle size less than about 75 micrometers, the powder being free of any binder that causes the powder to stick to the surface of the kibble, said powder being a lyophilized bifidobacteria or a lyophilized bifidobacteria mixed with ascorbic acid as a preservative, and wherein said core is not moistened or treated in any other way to aid in the adherence of the particles of the powder; wherein desiccant is present in the package at between about 100 grams and 1000 grams per 20 pounds of animal food to keep the animal food at a water activity of about 0.1, or less; and wherein the desiccant comprises a mixture of a silica and a desiccant selected from the group consisting of molecular sieve and calcium chloride.