What you need to know about Pet Food Label

Understanding how to interpret the pet food label is crucial for selecting the right diet for your pet. It empowers us to make informed choices, guaranteeing all nutritional requirements are fulfilled.

The initial focus should be on three key details: product name, purpose, and net weight. The product name indicates for whom it is intended (dog, cat, senior, puppy…) and the main ingredients (beef, chicken, lamb…). The purpose indicates if it’s a Complete food, coadjuvant pet food, or treats.

• Complete Food is designed to supply your pet with all the necessary nutrients for everyday life, meeting their full dietary needs. It consists of dry kibble and wet food that adhere to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards, labeled as “complete and balanced” for a particular life stage like puppy, adult, or senior.

• Coadjuvant food is designed to support specific health needs or conditions alongside a complete diet, providing additional support for health issues such as joint health, skin conditions, digestive health, or weight management. For instance, products like supplements, special diets, or functional foods designed for specific health needs may be labeled as “supplement”, “support”, or “dietary management” items.

• Treats are supplementary foods given to pets for rewards, training, or occasional enjoyment, such as biscuits, chews, snacks, and others. They shouldn't replace complete food and should be given in moderation to avoid nutritional imbalances or obesity. They are usually labeled with terms like “treat” or “snack”; some may offer added benefits like dental care or flavor enhancements.

The second, and most important, information that we must check is the list of ingredients. The ingredient list on pet food labels follows specific percentage rules that help indicate the amount of each ingredient in the product.

1. The 95% Rule:

 If an ingredient is named in the product name (e.g., "Chicken Dog Food"), it must make up at least 95% of the total weight of all ingredients, excluding water for processing.

2. The 25% or "Dinner" Rule:

If the product name includes a descriptive term like "dinner," "entrée," "platter," or "formula" (e.g., "Chicken Dinner for Dogs"), the named ingredient must comprise at least 25% but less than 95% of the total product (excluding water for processing).

3. The 3% or "With" Rule:

If the label uses the word "with" (e.g., "Dog Food with Chicken"), the named ingredient must make up at least 3% of the total product.

4. The "Flavor" Rule:

If the product name states "flavor" (e.g., "Chicken Flavor Dog Food"), the named ingredient does not have to meet a specific percentage but must be detectable by the pet. The flavor can be provided by a substance that gives the taste of the named ingredient.

Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight, meaning the heaviest ingredients appear first. This helps consumers understand the predominant ingredients in the product.

Another item to consider is the feeding guidelines. These are recommendations provided by the manufacturer regarding how much food to feed your pet. These guidelines typically include the portion size and the frequency.

• Portion Size: is a suggested amount of food to feed the pet, usually based on weight and sometimes the activity level. The amount is usually recommended using a measurement unit, for example, cups, grams, or cans.

• Frequency: is a recommendation on how often to feed the pet, e.g., twice a day, free feeding.

But these guidelines give you only a merely estimative quantity, and in some cases, the pet will need to eat more or less than the label suggests based on the animal activity level.

The best way to calculate the actual quantity of intake requirement is to calculate it using this formula:

·      Normal activity adult dog: 95 x (body weight in kg)0.75

·      For an active adult dog: 130 x (body weight in kg)0.75

The Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The Nutritional Adequacy Statement on a pet food label is a critical component that indicates whether the food meets the established nutritional standards for pets. This statement ensures that the food provides a complete and balanced diet for a specific life stage or condition, following the nutritional levels established by regulatory bodies such as AAFCO and FEDIAF.

This statement assures that the pet food manufacturer follows established guidelines and stands for pet nutrition, enhancing consumer confidence in the quality and safety of the per food products.

Example of a Nutritional Adequacy Statement:

“This food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AFFCO Dog Food Nutrients Profiles for Maintenance”.

Understanding these components can help you make informed decisions about what to feed your pet and ensure their dietary needs are met. If you have any specific questions about any section, feel free to ask!