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Sophie Jensen
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Utilization of mink fat - Urðarköttur / Utilising minkfat - Urðarköttur
Annually, about 30-40 tons of mink fat are produced by skin processing in Iceland. To date, the fat has not been utilized but has been landfilled along with the carcasses of the animals with associated costs and environmental impact. In order to make Icelandic mink breeding more competitive and environmentally friendly, it is important to increase overall utilization by utilizing the fat and making it a sought-after commodity just like the skins. The main idea of the project was to develop a product line for horses and horsemen where the basis is mink oil made from mink fat from Icelandic mink farms. Emphasis was placed on the development of ointments from mink oil and Icelandic medicinal herbs for the treatment of muck, but the intention is to produce soaps for washing horses and leather grease for riding clothes and leather clothing. Information on the processing of mink fat and medicinal herbs in ointments and other similar products, admixture, packaging and storage was collected. The safety assessment was carried out in accordance with Annex I to Regulation (EC) no. 1223/2009 to ensure the safety of the product. A quality manual was also prepared in accordance with ÍST EN ISO 22716: 2007. The purification process was developed and improved to increase the quality and service life of the mink oil. The results of the project are a complete processing process for the purification of mink oil, information on the quality and fatty acid composition of the oil, information on plant extracts and basic instructions in ointment making. In addition, the safety of the product has been assessed with measurements of undesirable substances as well as a summary of associated safety documents such as safety data sheets, product description files and safety report. There is also a draft quality manual for Urðarkattar, which enables the manufacturer to produce a product with pre-defined properties as well as guaranteed quality and product stability at any given time.
Annually about 30-40 tons of mink fat is discarded in Iceland during mink skin harvesting. So far the fat has not been utilized properly, but the fat has been buried with the carcasses of the animals along with the associated costs and environmental impact. In order to make Icelandic mink farming more competitive and environmentally friendly it is important to increase the overall utilization by refining and processing the mink fat and turn it into an attractive commodity, just like the skin. The main idea of the project was to develop a product line for horses and riders where the main ingredient is mink oil derived from mink fat from Icelandic mink farms. The focus was on developing ointments based on mink oil and local herbs to treat pastern dermatitis in horses but the intention is to produce soap for washing horses as well as products for leather treatment, eg saddlery and leather clothing. This report summarizes the considerable amounts of data obtained regarding the processing of mink fat and medicinal herbs in ointments and similar products as well as additives, packaging and storage conditions. A safety evaluation was conducted in accordance with Annex I of Regulation (EC) no. 1223/2009 to ensure product safety. In this project work was performed to draft a quality manual according to ISO 22716: 2007. A rendering process was developed and optimized to enhance the quality and shelf life of the mink oil. Results of the project was an overall production process for refining of mink oil and information on the quality and fatty acid composition of the oil, as well as information on plant extracts and basic guidelines in making ointments with medicinal herbs. In addition, product safety has been evaluated with measurements of undesirable substances and a summary of relevant safety documents, such as safety data sheets, product data records and a safety report. A framework for a quality manual in GMP (Good Manufacturing Procedures) for cosmetics has been established for Urðarköttur ehf., Which enables the production of a product with well characterized properties and to ensure that the quality and stability of the product is the same at all times.
Report closed until 01.07.2017