Food labels

Question 1

food label format

Answer 1

product and brand name
quantity
guaranteed analysis specifying amount of specific nutrients
ingredients listed in descending order by weight
nutritional adequacy statement
feeding directions
manufacturer’s name and address
calorie statement

Question 2

what are the four rules about food names?

Answer 2

1. 95% rule
2. 25% rule
3. with rule
4. flavor rule

Question 3

what is the 95% rule?

Answer 3

at least 95% of the food has to be made with the ingredient in the name

Question 4

what is the 25% rule?

Answer 4

at least 25% of the food has to be made with the ingredient in the name
often uses terms like dinner, meal, or entree

Question 5

what is the with rule?

Answer 5

the ingredient listed in the name after “with…” makes up at least 3% of the food

Question 6

what is the flavor rule?

Answer 6

if a food says it is flavored with an ingredient in the name then there doesn’t need to be a specific amount of that ingredient in the food, there just has to be enough to be detected

Question 7

quantity of food

Answer 7

tells you how much food is in the container

Question 8

guaranteed analysis

Answer 8

dog food labels have to display the percentage of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and water since many states have regulations that requires food to have a minimum amount of nutrients
if the food lists specific guarantees (like low-fat or vitamin/ mineral supplements) then there must be a specific guarantee of the amount in the food

Question 9

which part of the label is the most important to read?

Answer 9

the ingredients section
each ingredient must be labeled individually and listed in their common name
listed descending order by weight

Question 10

nutritional adequacy statement

Answer 10

foods that claim to be “complete and balanced” or “100% nutritious” have met specific government standards
the food has to contain the proper amount and ratio of essential nutrients for the needs of a healthy dog

Question 11

what are the different life stages that might be identified in the nutritional adequacy statement

Answer 11

gestation/ lactation, growth, maintenance, all life stages

Question 12

feeding directions

Answer 12

guidelines, not regulations
consult vet for feeding directions and amount

Question 13

organic

Answer 13

no artificial preservatives, coloring, or flavoring
no antibiotics or growth hormones in the meat and meat by-products
little to no fillers
describes how the ingredients were raised/ grown

Question 14

natural

Answer 14

lack of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives

Question 15

new protein food

Answer 15

comes from different protein sources
usually exotic meat like bison, kangaroo, rabbit, etc

Question 16

human-grade food

Answer 16

legally edible and approved as nourishment for humans, all ingredients in food must be human edible and the product must be manufactured, packed, and held in accordance with federal regulations
not necessarily safer, tastier, or less expensive than high-quality pet food

Question 17

who regulates human-grade food?

Answer 17

FDA and USDA

Question 18

who regulates pet food?

Answer 18

AAFCO

Question 19

lite, low-calorie, low-fat

Answer 19

the food must have a significant reduction of calories or fat compared to standard pet food
the labels must show the percentage reduction in calories or fat and must name a product for comparison