How to Read a Pet Food Label (8) Flashcards
Dr. Shepherd
Who regulates pet food?
- FDA
- FTC (Federal Trade Commission)
- State feed control directives
What is involved in the federal Food and Drug Administration?
Food/feed/supplement ingredients must be either:
FDA-approved food additive
Generally recognized as safe
AAFCO-defined ingredient
T/F: AAFCO is a regulatory body
FALSE
What are State Feed Control Officials?
typically within state department department of agriculture
What needs to be on a pet food label?
- product name
- guaranteed analysis
- ingredients
- nutritional adequacy statement
- feeding directions
- calorie statement
What does “100%” or all mean?
one ingredient only
can contain water, preservatives, traces
not complete and balanced
What does 95% mean regarding pet food?
named ingredient is at least 95% of product by weight
water can be included, but ingredient still needs to be > 70%
What does 25% mean regarding pet food?*
named ingredients total at least 25% of product by weight - each ingredient must be 3%
water can be included but ingredients still need to be >10%
You have a chicken and rice food. What kind of pet food is this?
25% - named ingredients total chicken and rice, more than 3% each
Dinner, platter, entree, formula, and recipe are examples of what type of pet product name?
25%
What is “with” with food ingredients?
if more than one ingredient and if the word “with” is used, each ingredient must be at least 3% by weight
named ingredients must appear in decreasing order by weight
if “with” not used, then the first ingredient myst be 25% of product weight
What does “flavor” mean regarding pet food?
must be same word as ingredient
source of flavor must be specified in ingredient list
What pet food example is this?
“entree” - 25% - duck, sweet potatoes, and whole peas have to make up 25% weight of product
What makes up the minimum percentage in the guaranteed analysis?
- crude protein
- crude fat
What makes up the maximum percentage in the guaranteed analysis?
- crude fiber
- moisture
What is the maximum percentage here?
- crude fiber 1.5%
- moisture 80%
What is a guaranteed analysis?
% as fed (can convert nutrients to dry matter basis)
have to account for water, not the same as typical analysis
Wet food has [higher/lower] guaranteed analysis
lower - more water in it
How are ingredient lists listed?
in order by weight, “as is” and includes water
Meat meal, poultry meal, and fish meal are usually ___ water
10%
T/F: It is possible poultry meal provides more protein than chicken, even if it’s listed after chicken on the ingredient list
TRUE - has water pulled out of it and protein concentrated (like a protein powder)
What does flavor mean?
not a specific amount has to be in there
can hardly find it on the ingredient list
What is an example of a nutritional adequacy statement?
____ is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog )or cat) food nutrient profiles
- maintenance
- growth
- gestation/lactation
- all life stages
