Petfood Labels

Question 1

What organizations are involved in petfood labelling

Answer 1

FDA
AAFCO
USDA
State dept of agriculture

Question 2

What is AAFCO

Answer 2

Association of American feed control officials

-private non profit
Provides regulations with minimal dog and cat nutrient profiles

Question 3

What are the only 3 requirements for the principle display panel on petfood labels?

Answer 3

Product name

Designator (eg cat food or dog food)

Net weight display

Question 4

If the principle display panel says “Beef”, what percentage of the total weight will that product be in the food?

Answer 4

70%

Question 5

If the principle display panel says “Beef dinner”, what percentage of the total weight will that product be in the food?

Answer 5

10% - canned

25%- dry

Question 6

If the principle display panel says “with beef”, what percentage of the total weight will that product be in the food?

Answer 6

3%

Question 7

If the principle display panel says “Beef flavor”, what percentage of the total weight will that product be in the food?

Answer 7

Recognizable by pet

Question 8

T/F: if a wet dogfood label says lamb meal and rice formula, that means that there are 10% of each rice and lamb.

Answer 8

False

There is at least a total of 10% with lamb and rice combined.
There has to be at least 3% of a single ingredient

Question 9

What nutrition statement could we be looking for on a pet food

Answer 9

Meets nutrient requirements of _______

Question 10

T/F: for a pet food to say “light”, “lite”, or “low calorie”, they must be below 250kcalME/kg

Answer 10

False

This will vary between foods with varying moisture content and varies between dog and cat foods

Question 11

What is the maximum amount of calories that a dog food can have to have “light” on its label

Answer 11

3100 kcal ME/kg

Question 12

What is the maximum amount of calories a cat food can have to have “low calorie” on its label

Answer 12

3250 kcal ME/kg

Question 13

When a pet food says “less” or “reduced calories/fat” what does this tell us about this food??

Answer 13

It is a reduction in fat, in comparison with another product (usually the highest carlorie product they have)

Question 14

A dog food labeled “lean” has a crude fat that is less than ____%, and and cat food labeled “lean” has a crude fat less than _______%

Answer 14

9; 10

Dogs haves lower requirements for fats than do cats

Question 15

Label says “natural”, what does that mean?

Answer 15

All ingredients are derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources

Question 16

Who sets the standards for organic pet foods

Answer 16

USDA (organic seal)

Question 17

What is required on the information panel?

Answer 17

Nutrition statement 
Ingredient list 
Guaranteed analysis 
Energy content as ME
Manufacturers, packer, or distributor name and address 
Feeding directions 
Universal product code

Question 18

If the nutrition statement says “… intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only” what does this mean?

Answer 18

Not a complete and balanced diet

Question 19

If the nutritional statement says…“complete for all life stages”, what does this mean

Answer 19

Will be the most energy dense diets –> for growth, gestation, or lactation

Will far exceed requirements for a maintenance diets

Question 20

T/F: If a nutrition statement says… “formulated to meet the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile for kittens. And adult reproducing queens, this pet food is guaranteed to sustain those animals.

Answer 20

False

It means that the food is formulated to have the nutrients, but these nutrients may not be digestible or absorbable from the food

Look for –> substantiated by feeding tests performed in accordance with he procedures established by AAFCO

Question 21

What are pet foods that have NO statement of adequacy?

Answer 21

Snacks or treats - may not be complete and balanced

Veterinary medical foods

Question 22

Ingredient lists will list ingredients in what order?

Answer 22

By descending order by weight

Usually meats are added with water weight
Grains or rices -> ingredient splitting

Question 23

What determines the energy content of food?

Answer 23

Fat