How to Use Green Tea Extract Decaf in Pet Food

Table of contents

2 Pet Food Ingredients Manufacturers: Green Tea Extract Decaf Process

3 How to Use Green Tea Extract Decaf in Pet Food

4 Green Tea Extract Decaffeinated Benefits

Best green tea extract decaf is derived from green tea leaves, which are decaffeinated to remove the stimulant (caffeine), leaving behind many of the beneficial compounds like antioxidants, polyphenols (such as EGCG), and amino acids. These compounds can offer various health benefits, such as improving immune function, promoting digestion, and potentially acting as an anti-inflammatory. Decaffeinated green tea extract is often preferred for pets because caffeine can be toxic to animals, especially dogs.

What is Decaf Green Tea?

Decaffeinated green tea means that the caffeine content has been reduced or eliminated. Decaffeination can be achieved through different methods, including water processing, CO2 extraction, or ethyl acetate treatment. The decaf green tea still contains most of the beneficial polyphenols and catechins (EGCG) that make green tea known for its antioxidant properties.

Pet Food Ingredients Manufacturers: Green Tea Extract Decaf Process

1. Harvesting: The process starts with the collection of high-quality green tea leaves. The quality of the leaves used is important as it impacts the flavor and nutrient composition of the final extract.

2. Decaffeination:

Water Process: One of the most common methods used for decaffeination is the water processing method, which uses hot water to extract caffeine from the tea leaves. Then, separate and concentrate the water-soluble compounds like polyphenols, which are beneficial for health.
CO2 Extraction: This method uses high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2) to selectively extract caffeine. The advantage of CO2 extraction is that it preserves more of the antioxidants and other bioactive compounds. The extract is then filtered to remove caffeine.
Ethyl Acetate Method: Ethyl acetate, a naturally occurring compound found in fruits, sometimes decaffeinates green tea leaves. It selectively bonds with the caffeine and pulls it out, leaving the polyphenols largely intact. However, producers less commonly use this method in the production of decaf green tea for health-related applications due to the use of chemicals.

3. Drying: After the decaffeination step, dry the tea leaves to preserve the remaining antioxidants and active compounds. The drying process also ensures the stability of the product, making it easier to handle and store.

4. Extraction: Once the tea leaves undergo decaffeination, the process extracts beneficial compounds such as catechins (especially EGCG), polyphenols, and flavonoids. This process usually uses a solvent like water or alcohol and aims to preserve the antioxidants while removing unnecessary components like tannins or excess chlorophyll.

5. Concentration: Next, concentrate the extracted liquid to create a potent green tea extract. Depending on its intended use, you can further process the concentrate into a powder or a liquid.

6. Standardization: The final extract is often standardized to a specific level of active ingredients (such as EGCG content). This ensures consistent potency in each batch of extract, which is important for manufacturers using it in various products.

7. Formulation and Packaging: The decaffeinated green tea extract is now ready for use in different formulations, whether as an ingredient in pet food, cosmetics, or supplements. Depending on the product’s application, manufacturers can process it into a powder, liquid, or encapsulated form. The extract is then packaged for distribution.

As a green tea extract powder supplier, we offer Green tea extract, tea polyphenols 30%, caffeine less than 0.2%, Greenagribio are pleased to offer a MOQ 1-25kg, with the flexibility to customize orders based on your specific requirements. Whether you need smaller quantities for research, formulation, or testing, or larger quantities for commercial production, Our can accommodate your needs.

How to Use Green Tea Extract Decaf in Pet Food

1. Recommended dosage

Dry Dog Food: For dry food, you can mix green tea extract decaf into the powder or coating. The exact amount will depend on the formulation. For dry food (water content ≤ 10%), add 100-300 mg/kg (i.e. 0.01%-0.03%) and ensure even distribution due to the low water content.

Wet Dog Food: Add green tea extract decaf directly into the wet food, either as a powder or liquid form. For wet food (water content 70-85%), add 50-150 mg/kg (i.e. 0.005%-0.015%) and adjust the formula to prevent dilution of the active ingredients by water. You can mix it with the wet food when preparing or just before packaging.

Basis: Refer to the research on the safety upper limit of plant extracts and the functional dosage of antioxidants by FEDIAF (European Pet Food Association).

2. Notes

Weight classification: The recommended lower limit dose is for small dogs (≤10kg), and you can appropriately increase the dose for large dogs (≥25kg), but you must follow the total intake safety threshold (≤20mg catechins/kg body weight/day).

Regulatory compliance: It must comply with AAFCO (USA) or local pet food additive standards Some countries require clear labeling of “decaffeinated”.

3. Formula

Formula synergy: compounded with anti-inflammatory ingredients such as fish oil (Omega-3) and curcumin.

Palatability test: Add trace amounts of natural flavoring agents (such as chicken powder) to mask the bitter taste of green tea and ensure pet acceptance.

Compliance statement: Mark “Caffeine content <0.2% tested by a third party” or “Complies with ISO 3720 low caffeine standard”.

Green Tea Extract Decaffeinated Benefits

Decaffeinated green tea extract can have many health benefits, including:

Brain health: Decaf green tea can help improve memory and cognitive function, and may reduce the risk of age-related cognitive decline.

Heart health: Decaf green tea can help maintain healthy cholesterol levels and may reduce the risk of heart disease.

Weight loss: Decaf green tea extract can help increase fat oxidation and decrease body fat.

Exercise recovery: Decaf green tea extract can help improve exercise performance.

Blood sugar regulation: Decaf green tea extract can help regulate blood sugar.

Disease prevention: Decaf green tea extract can help prevent disease.

Skin and liver health: Decaf green tea extract can help keep your skin and liver healthy.

Blood pressure regulation: Decaf green tea extract can help regulate blood pressure.

Green Tea Extract Decaf Side Effects

Side effects of green tea extract can include caffeine sensitivity, upset stomach, and dizziness. Other possible side effects include: Diarrhea, Headache, Heartburn, Teeth stains, and Liver problems.

Market Trend Around Pet Food

In recent years, The pet food market has increasingly focused on premium and functional ingredients.Pet owners are becoming more health-conscious about what goes into their pets’ food, which has driven demand for antioxidants, anti-inflammatory agents, and natural supplements. Green tea extract, due to its numerous health benefits, aligns with this trend. As pets’ health and wellness continue to be a growing concern, there is an increasing interest in adding natural, functional ingredients like decaf green tea extract to support things like:

Immune support
Joint health
Digestive health
Skin and coat health

Some key market trends around pet food include:

Natural and Organic Ingredients: There’s a shift toward natural, organic, and sustainable ingredients in pet food, with many consumers avoiding artificial additives or fillers.

Functional Pet Foods: Some pet food companies design pet foods with added benefits, such as promoting longevity, improving mobility, and boosting the immune system. Green tea extract fits well into these formulations as a natural antioxidant.

Humanization of Pets: The trend of treating pets like family members continues to drive the demand for high-quality, human-grade ingredients in pet foods, including supplements and functional ingredients like green tea.

Pet food ingredient supplier Greenagribio was tested by accredited third-party labs in the USA to ensure their identity, purity and potency. To receive a copy of these test results or any other, please fill out the COA.

Also See