Pet owners typically treat their pets like members of the family, with unique personalities, quirks, and preferences. That mindset increasingly extends to the food they buy on a regular basis; for many owners, basic kibble is no longer acceptable, and ingredient lists receive the same kind of scrutiny they apply to their own meals. This shift has prompted pet food manufacturers to incorporate natural ingredients such as dried herbs and spices, which improve taste and aroma while also serving practical purposes related to preservation and functionality.
Manufacturing Considerations for Pet Food Ingredients
Pet food production operates under constraints similar to human food manufacturing, but with additional considerations around palatability for animals rather than people. Ingredients need to withstand high-temperature extrusion or baking processes, remain stable during extended shelf life, and contribute to the overall sensory profile that determines whether a pet will actually eat the product. Manufacturers also face increasing pressure to eliminate artificial preservatives and flavor enhancers, creating formulation gaps that need filling with natural alternatives.
Dried herbs and spices address several of these challenges at once. They survive processing temperatures that would destroy fresh produce, provide months of shelf stability in finished products, and contribute both aroma (which drives palatability for scent-driven eaters) and functional benefits like antioxidant activity. The processing consistency matters as much as the ingredient itself because batch-to-batch variation in moisture content or volatile oil levels can affect both manufacturing performance and final product quality. Manufacturers need suppliers who can deliver herbs that perform predictably rather than requiring constant formula adjustments.1
Key Herbs and Spices in Pet Food Applications
There are a number of dried herbs and spices that have become standard in pet food formulations, and they each offer distinct benefits for both manufacturing performance and product positioning. The following ingredients are some commonly used products that address specific formulation needs:
- Rosemary: Rosemary functions primarily as a natural preservative through compounds like carnosic acid that slow fat oxidation and prevent rancidity. This allows manufacturers to replace synthetic antioxidants while extending shelf life in dry foods and treats. Rosemary also adds an herbal, savory note that complements meat-based formulas. Available in various cut sizes from whole needles to fine powder.
- Parsley: In addition to containing vitamins A, C, and K, parsley is also rich in chlorophyll, a plant compound that is commonly used as a breath-freshening agent in dental treats and biscuits. The mild, fresh flavor works well across multiple protein bases without overwhelming other ingredients. Often used in visible flake form to signal “real herbs” on product appearance.
- Turmeric: One of the most important benefits of turmeric is curcumin, an anti-inflammatory compound that is believed to improve joint health in senior pets. The golden-orange color adds visual appeal to products while the earthy flavor blends easily with meat and grain bases.
- Oregano: The strong aromatic properties of oregano enhance palatability, making it especially useful in formulas with novel proteins or plant-based components. Oregano also contains natural antimicrobial compounds that may support gut health. Because its flavor is quite potent, small inclusion rates are typically sufficient in blended applications.
- Basil: Basil adds sweet, fragrant notes that can make simpler formulations more appealing. The herb contains essential oils with anti-inflammatory properties along with trace amounts of vitamins K and A. Basil works particularly well in gourmet or artisanal pet food products where culinary character matters to owners.
- Custom herb blends: Rather than managing multiple herbs separately during production, manufacturers can use custom blends to achieve specific flavor profiles through a single ingredient addition. These blends can be formulated for particular applications like Mediterranean-style recipes, garden vegetable profiles, or wellness combinations aimed at specific health benefits.
Quality and Safety Requirements for Herbs in Pet Food
Dried herbs used in pet food face stricter scrutiny than many realize. Because these ingredients often come from agricultural sources in multiple countries, they can carry microbial contamination, pesticide residues, or foreign material that would fail food safety testing. Pet food manufacturers operate under increasingly strict regulatory oversight similar to human food production. An herb that tests positive for salmonella or exceeds pesticide limits can shut down production runs and trigger costly recalls. The challenge becomes finding suppliers who can consistently deliver herbs that meet these specifications without requiring extensive testing and qualification on the manufacturer's end.
Batch-to-batch consistency matters beyond just safety. Herbs naturally vary in moisture content, volatile oil levels, and particle size depending on growing conditions and harvest timing. This variation can affect everything from how the ingredient flows through processing equipment to how much aroma it contributes to the finished product. A rosemary batch with lower-than-expected carnosic acid content won’t preserve as effectively. Oregano with inconsistent particle size distribution can create uneven flavor pockets in treats. Manufacturers need herbs processed to tight specifications with documentation proving each lot meets requirements, not just assurances that “it’s natural and good quality.”2
Silva’s Processing and Quality Controls
Silva International addresses these quality challenges through controlled sourcing and processing protocols designed for food-grade applications. Herbs arrive at our Illinois facility from grower networks in over 25 countries, with different regions supplying the herbs they grow best. Upon arrival, raw materials undergo laboratory testing for pesticides, heavy metals, and microbial contamination before entering production. The cleaning process removes foreign material through destoning, air separation, and optical sorting while a natural low-oxygen treatment eliminates any insects without chemical fumigants.
For microbial reduction, we use steam sterilization or infrared heat treatment to bring herbs to specifications required for ready-to-eat pet products. Both methods avoid irradiation and chemical additives. Our facility maintains food safety certifications and can supply herbs as non-GMO or organic when formulations require it. Multiple cutting lines handle different particle size needs, from visible flakes to fine powders for seasoning blends. Each batch includes documentation covering microbial testing, moisture levels, and particle consistency.
Premium Pet Food Ingredients From Silva
Pet food formulations increasingly rely on natural ingredients that deliver both flavor and function. Silva’s dried herbs and spices provide consistent quality and food-grade processing for manufacturers developing products that meet current market demands. Whether you need individual herbs, custom blends, or specific particle sizes for your application, our processing capabilities support pet food production requirements. Contact us today to learn more about partnering with Silva.
1https://straitsresearch.com/report/pet-food-ingredient-market
2https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8622411/