An edible product in accordance with the present invention involves an edible
inner component made from a first material and an edible outer cover component
substantially completely encapsulating the edible inner component. In one form
of the invention, the inner component is in the form of a hairball treatment for
cats and the outer component is a dough-like material. A system for producing the
edible product includes a first material source for supplying a first edible material
to form the inner component of the edible product, a second material source for
supplying a second edible material to form the outer component of the edible product,
and an extruder for continuously coextruding the first edible material and the
edible second material to produce an elongated rope of edible product. A crimping
apparatus receives the longitudinal rope extruded from the extruder for crimping
the longitudinal rope to separate the longitudinal rope into individual edible
products. A method for producing the edible product involves supplying the first
and second edible materials to the extruder, and continuously coextruding the first
and second materials as a longitudinal rope in which the first material is positioned
within and surrounded by the second material. The longitudinal rope is cut at spaced
apart locations as it is being extruded from the extruder to produce individual
edible products each containing an inner component comprised of the first material
and an outer cover component comprised of the second material that substantially
completely surrounds the inner component, with the edible products being sealed
at opposite ends.
