Aafco Approved Pet Foods

Read a label correctly select a food labeled for the pet s species life stage and condition follow feeding directions on the label the nutritional adequacy statement usually found in small print on the back or side of pet food packaging is the key to meeting a pet s nutritional needs.

Aafco approved pet foods.

The agency doesn t endorse any dog food. Plant ingredients like corn barley peas and potatoes also supply energy and help hold kibbles together. The aafco dog and cat food nutrient profiles express nutrient levels on a dry matter or moisture free basis. There are a number of sources of dietary fiber used in pet food including dried beet pulp dried chicory root fructooligosaccharide powdered cellulose and inulin.

However aafco can only recommend not enforce law. Aafco is a private non profit corporation featuring. But the guaranteed analysis on a pet food label expresses nutrient levels on an. A forum where state agencies federal agencies and industry develop uniform language that states may adopt or reference in laws.

Aafco is made up of veterinary nutritionists veterinarians state and federal officials and pet food industry professionals all interested in creating the best possible guidelines for your pet s food. Aafco has a separate division that is specific to pet food but feed control officials still consider pet food a feed. One of the purposes of the american association of feed control officials aafco is to oversee nutritional adequacy statements on pet food labels. Although aafco statements are intended to assure the available pet foods are complete and balanced diets aafco doesn t regulate test approve or certify pet foods.

The food and drug administration fda requires labeling whether the food meets aafco guidelines or not for nutritional adequacy. Two meetings per year that include specialized trainings for members and industry. A process for defining ingredients used in animal feed and pet food. In fact the guaranteed analysis of the food and whether or not.

Rather it establishes model labeling standards for manufacturers regarding the ingredient list and nutritional formula and recommends laws or regulations to implement those guidelines. Aafco does not regulate test approve or certify pet foods in any way. Most states ok all states don t take issue with a pet food aka pet feed containing protein sourced from euthanized animals or pesticide laden grains vegetables. Aafco establishes the nutritional standards for complete and balanced pet foods and it is the pet food company s responsibility to formulate their products according to the appropriate aafco standard.

The aafco essentially details what ingredients a dog food label must contain in order to claim complete and balanced nutrition for your pal at any life stage from puppy to senior. It s the pet food manufacturers responsibility to manufacture the pet food according to aafco standards. Even though the stuff that pets consume is titled pet food it is considered pet feed and it is held to regulations of feed not regulations of food.