Nutrition is the foundation of your pet's health and wellbeing, so it's vital to know exactly what you're feeding them. Understanding pet food labels is key to making sure your pet is getting the best nutrition possible. But deciphering these labels can be confusing – there are so many unfamiliar terms and numbers, and it can be difficult to make sense of it all.
Fortunately, pet food labels are carefully regulated in the United States and there are several key pieces of information you should look for. In this article, we'll break down the basics so you can feel confident you're providing your pet with the nutrition they need to stay healthy and happy.
Pet Food Label Requirements: What Are The Rules For Pet Food Labels?
First, it's important to understand who's responsible for setting the rules for pet food labels. The two main regulatory bodies are the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
The FDA regulates pet foods through the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM). They require that all products are safe to eat and free from harmful substances. Pet food products must be pure and wholesome, produced in a sanitary environment, and truthfully labeled. The FDA also has specific guidelines for pet food labels including product identification, net quantity, manufacturer information, and a full ingredient list in descending order of weight.
In addition, any health claims made on a pet food label are evaluated by the FDA. For example, if the product claims to support digestive health, the FDA will ensure that there's sufficient scientific evidence to back up that claim.
The AAFCO is a non-governmental organization made up of officials from state and federal agencies in the United States. It sets guidelines for all domestic animal feeds, including pet food. Although the organization doesn't approve or enforce pet food regulations, its guidelines are adopted and enforced by each state's feed control official.
Every year, the AAFCO publishes guidelines for pet food labels, ingredients, nutritional adequacy, additives, and nutrient levels for cats and dogs at different life stages. These then become the basis for regulations in each state.
What Information Is on a Pet Food Label?
Now that you know the basics of pet food labels and the organizations responsible for regulating them, let's go over the key pieces of information you should look for.
Intended Species and Product Name
Each pet food label should clearly identify what species the product is intended for. This will tell you whether the food is suitable for your cat or dog. While this information is straightforward, the same can't be said for the product name, so it pays to read the label carefully.
High-quality foods will have names like "Chicken for Dogs," "Salmon for Dogs," or "Beef Dog Food." This indicates that these foods have 95% of the named ingredient on a dry matter basis. Lower-quality foods may have names like "Chicken Dinner for Dogs" or "Beef Entrée for Cats," which means the food only contains 25% of the named ingredient on a dry matter basis.
If the product name uses "with," this indicates that the food only contains 3% of the named ingredient on a dry matter basis. For example, if the product name is "Dog Food with Chicken," this means it contains only 3% chicken.
The term "flavor" is also one to watch out for. If the product name includes this term, it generally means that there's less than 3% of the named ingredient on a dry matter basis. So "Chicken Flavor Dog Food" means there's only 3% chicken in the food.
Ingredients List
The ingredients list must include all the components of the food in order of weight. However, since moisture is included in the weight, it can be difficult to estimate how much of each ingredient is actually in the food.
The AAFCO's list of ingredients is a great resource for understanding the ingredients in your pet's food. The list includes common terms like "meat" and "poultry by-products," as well as more unfamiliar terms such as "meal" and "rendered products."
Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis (GA) is one of the most important parts of a pet food label. It provides the minimum or maximum levels of protein, fat, fiber, and moisture in the food. This information allows pet parents to compare pet food products and determine which one is best for their pet.
The term "crude" in the GA refers to the method of measuring the nutrient content of the food. Pet food labels are legally required to guarantee a minimum percentage of crude protein and fat, and a maximum percentage of crude fiber and moisture.
In order to compare two different pet food brands, you'll need to calculate the nutrient content of each on a dry matter basis. This means subtracting the moisture percentage from 100% to get the total "dry matter" (DM) in the food. Then divide the ingredient in question by the DM and multiply by 100 to give the total percentage of that ingredient on a dry matter basis.
This article explains more about calculating dry matter basis in pet food and why it's important. Plus, it includes a handy calculator to help you compare different products.
