Exploring Antioxidant Strategies and Oxidative Stability: Case Studies on Pet Food Shelf-Life Management and Insect Oil

“Lipid oxidation is a critical area of research with far-reaching implications in various fields, including food science, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and health. The role of antioxidants in mitigating lipid oxidation is equally significant.” [1]

In this light the International Symposium on Lipid Oxidation and Antioxidants (5^th ISLOA), organized by EuroFed Lip in Bologna from 08 July till 10 July 2024, aimed to bring together professionals and researchers around the world to exchange knowledge and share their latest findings. In this framework CDR FoodLab® has been presented in three posters as analyzer to measure the Peroxide Value, a crucial value tied to the oxidation process.

Three studies were presented at 5th ISLOA, respectively titled: 

• “Evaluation of antioxidant strategies in pet food shelf-life management: some case studies”
• “Oxidative stability of insect oil from Hermetia illucens larvae as affected by processing and diet”
• “Oxidative stability of insect oil from Tenebrio molitor larvae as effected by processing and diet”. 

“Pet foods commonly incorporate ingredients rich in lipids, which are susceptible to oxidation. One of the main ingredients of dry extruded pet food are rendered protein meals derived from meat and fish byproducts, such as poultry, fish, pork and bovine. These rendered products are generally an excellent source of protein, but they also contain on average 10-15% lipids. In order to preserve the organoleptic properties, the nutritional content and the safety during the long shelf life of pet foods, the use of additives is required.” [2] In these studies to assess shelf life, different analyses were conducted to characterize the lipid oxidation: among accelerated oxidation tests, hexanal concentration measurement, residual antioxidant determination, CDR FoodLab® was used to assess Peroxide Value, a crucial index of the oxidation advancement. 

“By-products from agri-food industry, like those conventional from olive oil (olive leaf, olive pomace) or emerging ones, as quinoa husk, are valuable source of untapped resources that could be used for insect rearing. On the other hand, edible insects, besides being alternative protein sources, also provide a substantial amount of fat of interest for food and feed.” [3], [4] In order to monitor the oxidation state of the extracted fats, once again the CDR FoodLab® was used to test Peroxide Value from the extraction during all the storage. Insect oils represent a new and deeply researched chapter in the field of nutrients and supplements for the future: the adoption of a quick and easy method like CDR FoodLab® to monitor the oxidation parameters as PV is a successful choice and brings real advantages in several fields from the academic to the industrial one.

Once again, the system proves itself as an efficient method to analyze natural oils and fats compliant to reference methods standards. It requires only a small workspace and no specialized facilities, allowing for immediate setup in any existing bench space without the need for extraction hoods or glassware. Tests can be completed in minutes, with the capability to conduct multiple sessions simultaneously. The system is pre-calibrated at the factory, eliminating the need for future calibration, and it utilizes pre-filled test cuvettes and low-toxicity reagents, ensuring both convenience and safety in analysis. 

EuroFed Lipid (European Federation for the Science and Technology of Lipid) is an organization focused on advancing the science and technology of fats, oils, and lipids. Its main goals are to promote cooperation and knowledge exchange among researchers, scientists, and industry professionals. EuroFed Lipid organizes conferences and workshops, publishes scientific research, and provides a platform for networking and collaboration in the lipid community. It covers various topics, including food lipids, lipid chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, and industrial applications.

[1] 5th International Symposium on Lipid Oxidation and Antioxidants https://veranstaltungen.gdch.de/microsite/index.cfm?l=11650&modus= 

[2] V. Antonioni, F. Pasini, S. Marzocchi,  M.F. Caboni - Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna -  S. Passeri - CFS Europe S.p.A, Ravenna Italy - Evaluation of antioxidant strategies in pet food shelf-life management: some case studies

[3] E. Cantero-Bahillo, V. da Cunha, N. Fuentes-Peñarrieta, C. Vargas-García, T. Fornari, D. Martin, L. Vázquez - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain - Oxidative stability of insect oil from Tenebrio molitor larvae as effected by processing and diet

[4] R. Hurtado-Ribeira, L.C. Julio-González, E. Cantero-Bahillo, S. Collantes, D. Martín-Hernández, L. Vázquez, D. Martin - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain - Oxidative stability of insect oil from Hermetia illucens larvae as affected by processing and diet