Interpreting Pet Food Labels pgs 309 - 316

1. Interpreting Pet Food Labelspgs 309 - 316

2. Pet food labels are regulated at two levels. The federal regulations are enforced by the FDA and the state regulations are enforced by the AAFCO

3. PRODUCT NAME:What is in a name?Product names are dictated by the percentages of named ingredients. The AAFCO has four primary percentage rules.These rules pertain to the animal based protein only.

4. THE 95% RULE:This applies to products consisting primarily of meat, poultry or fish.

5. These foods have simple names such as Beef for Dogs or Tuna Cat Food. At least 95% of the product must be the named ingredient (by weight), not counting the water added for processing. Counting the added water, the named ingredient must still comprise 70% of the product.

6. If the food name includes a combination of protein ingredients then the two together must comprise 95% of the total weight. The first ingredient named must be the one of higher predominance.Eg. Chicken and beef dog food must contain a higher % of chicken

7. The 95% rule only applies to ingredients of animal origin. Grains can not be used as a component of the 95% total. For example, a Lamb and Rice dog food would be misnamed unless the product contained at least 95% lamb.

8. THE 25% RULEIf the named ingredients comprise at least 25% of the product but less than 95% then the pet food name must include a qualifying descriptive term such as “dinner, platter, entrée, nuggets or formula” Therefore “Beef Dinner for Dogs” only has to contain ¼ beef

9. The primary ingredient is not always the named ingredient so Chicken Formula Cat Food may contain more fish than chicken.

12. THE 3% RULEor the “with” ruleThis rule was intended to apply to ingredients that appeared outside the product name. Therefore label may include a sideburst is at least 3% of that ingredient is added.

13. AAFCO also allows the term “with” indicating that 3% of that ingredient has been added. This can become confusing for the consumer because Cat Food with Tuna (3% tuna) is very different from Tuna Cat Food (95% tuna).

17. THE FLAVOR RULE

18. With this rule a specific percentage is not required BUT the product must contain an amount sufficient to be detected.

21. With respect to flavors, pet foods often contain “digests” which are material treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to for concentrated flavors. Therefore Chicken Flavored Cat Food may not actually contain any chicken at all

23. Any statements such as “improved” or “new” are only permitted for 6 months and then must be removed.

24. Any comparisons or preference statements are permitted for one year and must be substantiated by evidence. To remain on the label after one year, the claim must be resubstantiated. Eg. 3 out of 4 pet owners prefer Huff n’ Puff Dog Food over the leading brand. I must be able to document this.

25. WHAT ELSE HAS TO PRINTED ON THE BAG?ALL cat and dog food labels must contain eight pieces of information

26. #1 Product Name

27. #2 Designation or Statement of intent.This identifies the food as dog or cat food.

29. #3 The Net Quantity Statement.This tells you how much product is in the bag.

30. #4 The Manufacturers Name and AddressNot all labels include a street address, but by law it should be listed in either a city directory or telephone directory

32. #5 Ingredients ListAll ingredients are required to be listed in order by weight including their water content.This is an important point because meat is very high in moisture.

34. So in comparing foods:Pet food A may list “meat” as its first ingredient and pet food B may list corn first and “meat meal” second.Meat is approx 75% water but in meat meal, water and fat have been removed, so it is only 10% moisture. When comparing the foods on a dry matter basis (mathematically removing the water) Pet food B has more animal source protein.

35. #6 Guaranteed AnalysisThe label must state the minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat and the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

36. The “crude” term itself refers to the specific method of testing the product, NOT to the quality of the nutrient itself.

37. Crude protein measures the total nitrogen content of a product and, from that, estimates the amount of protein within that product. Crude protein measurements include nitrogen from proteins as well as from non-protein nitrogen sources 

38. Guarantees are declared on an “as fed” or “as is” basis this represents the amounts present as it is found in the can or bag. This doesn’t have much bearing when the guarantees of two products of similar moisture content are compared.

39. To convert a nutrient guarantee to a dry matter basis divide the nutrient guarantee by the dry matter percentage.Eg. Let’s compare the crude protein content of dry vs canned food

40. Crude protein = 8.0% Moisture = 74% (dry matter = 26 %) 8 / 26 x 100 = 30.7

41. Crude protein = 37% Moisture = 9.0 % (dry matter = 91%) 37 / 91 x 100 = 40.6

42. It is very important to check the moisture percentage. The maximum percentage for pet food is 78% EXCEPT for products labeled as stew, in sauce, in gravy etc These products may contain as much as 87.5% moisture

44. #7 Nutritional Adequacy StatementThe AAFCO mandates that “complete and balanced” pet food must be substantiated for nutritional adequacy by one of two means

45. The first method is for the pet food to contain ingredients formulated to provide levels of nutrients that meet an established profile. Presently, the AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profiles are used. Products substantiated by this method should include the words, "(Name of product) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO (Dog/Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles." This means the product contains the proper amount of protein, calcium, and other recognized essential nutrients needed to meet the needs of the healthy animal.

46. The alternative means of substantiating nutritional adequacy is for the product to be tested following the AAFCO Feeding Trial Protocols. This means that the product, or "lead" member of a "family" of products, has been fed to dogs or cats under strict guidelines and found to provide proper nutrition. These products should bear the nutritional adequacy statement "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (name of product) provides complete and balanced nutrition."

47. Regardless of the method used, the nutritional adequacy statement will also state for which life stage(s) the product is suitable, such as "for maintenance," or "for growth." A product intended "for all life stages" meets the more stringent nutritional needs for growth and reproduction. A maintenance ration will meet the needs of an adult, non-reproducing dog or cat of normal activity, but may not be sufficient for a growing, reproducing, or hard-working animal. On the other hand, an all life stages ration can be fed for maintenance. Although the higher levels of nutrients would not be harmful to the healthy adult animal, they are not really necessary. Occasionally a product may be labeled for a more specific use or life stage, such as "senior" or for a specific size or breed. However, there is little information as to the true dietary needs of these more specific uses, and no rules governing these types of statements have been established. Thus, a "senior" diet must meet the requirements for adult maintenance, but no more.

48. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a voluntary membership association of local, state and federal agencies charged by law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies. * Ensure consumer protection * Safeguarding the health of animals and humans * Providing a level playing field of orderly commerce for the animal feed industry.