COMMIT TO CARE:  PET FOOD LABELS 
                              
                        Jack Bartels, DVM, JD 
                              
       AAFCO=Association of American Feed Control Officials 
        
       AAFCO establishes the nutritional standards for pet foods. 
        
       AAFCO: 
          (1)  sets the standards for pet foods sold in the US 
          (2)  defines ingredients and terms for all animal feeds 
          (3)  standardizes feeding trials 
          (4)  establishes minimums and some maximums for some key nutrients 
          (5)  determines nutrient guidelines for all life stages (gestation/lactation, growth, maintenance, 
            not senior or large breed) 
        
       What is on a pet food label? 
          (1)  product name and brand name 
          (2)  species name for which the food is intended 
          (3)  quantity statement-net weight 
          (4)  guaranteed analysis 
          (5)  ingredient statement 
          (6)  nutritional adequacy or purpose statement 
          (7)  feeding directions 
          (8)  statement of caloric content 
          (9)  name and address of manufacturer or distributor 
        
        
       Modifiers on a pet food label: 
          (1)  chicken, beef, etc-pet food must contain at least 95% or more of named ingredient 
          (2)  dinner, entrée, platter, formula, etc-pet food must contain at least 25 to 94% of the named 
            ingredient 
          (3)  with chicken, beef, etc-pet food must contain at least 3% of the names ingredient 
          (4)  flavor-no specific %, but ingredient list must disclose source of the flavor 
        
       How is the ingredient list ordered?  Ingredients are listed in order of predominance by weight. 
        
       Corn, an amazing grain: 
          (1)  very good source of fatty acids and vitamins 
          (2)  very digestible 
          (3)  less than 3% of dog food allergies 
          (4)  less than 1% of cat food allergies 
          (5)  there is no gluten in corn 
        
       What is a by-product?  A by-product is a secondary product produced in addition to the principle 
       product.  By-products are common ingredients in both human and pet foods.  In the pet food industry, 
       by-products are generally the internal organs meats.  By-products are not inferior.  One way to 
       determine the quality of ingredients of a pet food is by examining the mineral content of that food.  
       Excessive mineral content can be a sign that lesser quality ingredients have been used to prepare that 
       particular pet food. 
        
       Grain-free foods are not necessarily better.  Nor are grain free foods necessarily higher in protein.  All 
       animals need some carbohydrates, which grains supply.   
        
       Guaranteed Analysis: 
          (1)  lists the percentage of select nutrients in the food 
          (2)  guaranteed analysis does not provide the exact percentage amounts 
          (3)  guaranteed analysis provides minimum percent of crude protein and crude fat contents 
          (4)  guaranteed analysis provides maximum percentage of crude fiber and moisture content 
       How do you find the exact amounts of protein, fat, fiber and carbohydrate in a pet food?  Contact the 
       manufacturer for this information.  It is not on a pet food label. 
        
       Legally defined terms: 
          (1)  organic=a legally defined term, and can be used by pet food manufacturers if they follow 
            the same organic rules that are applied to human foods 
              (a)  “100 percent organic”-all ingredients are certified organic 
              (b)  “organic”-at least 95% of content is organic by weight (excluding water and salt) 
              (c)  “made with organic”-at least 70% of content is organic and the principal display 
               panel may display the phrase “Made with Organic” followed by up to three specific 
               ingredients 
              (d)  less than 70% of content is organic-may list only those ingredients that are organic 
               as organic on the ingredient panel with no mention of organic on the principal 
               display panel 
          (2)  natural=no chemically synthesized ingredients except for added vitamins, minerals, and 
            trace nutrients 
        
       Terms not legally defined: 
          (1)  holistic-has no legal definition 
          (2)  human-grade-produced in a facility that produces human food. Often considered misleading 
        
       Nutritional adequacy statement (AAFCO Statement): 
          (1)  provides the method of validation for nutritional adequacy:  formulated or animal feeding 
            tested 
          (2)  life staged: growth, maintance or complete and balanced for all life stages 
        
       Formulation method: 
          (1)  the food must contain every nutrient the pet needs as specified by AAFCO’s Dog or Cat Food 
            Profiles 
          (2)  less expensive method than animal feeding trial method 
          (3)  results are determined more quickly than animal feeding test because actual feeding or 
            digestibility trials are not required 
          (4)  food does not have to actually have been fed to pets using the formulation method 
        
       Required procedures for an AAFCO Feeding Trial: 
          (1)  minimum of 30 dogs (cats) to establish colony average 
          (2)  minimum of 8 dogs (cats) at least one year of age for each trial 
          (3)  same formulation must be used throughout the test period 
          (4)  test must run a minimum of 26 weeks (6 months) 
          (5)  formulation shall be the sole source of nutrients, except water 
          (6)  daily food consumption must be measured 
          (7)   individual body weights shall be measured and recorded weekly 
          (8)  hemoglobin, packed cell volume, other blood chemistry tests done 
          (9)  thorough veterinary physical exam done twice during test 
        
       An “all life stages” food is appropriate not just for puppies, but for the pregnant/lactating dog or cat.