Reading Petfood Labels

Question 1

After recommending a diet change, what does the veterinarian need to do?

Answer 1

Make sure to see the patient back for a re-check

Question 2

What entities are involved with petfoods and labels?

Answer 2

FDA (CVM within FDA)
AAFCO
USDA
State Department of Agriculture

Question 3

All manufacturing facilities must be registered with the _______

Answer 3

FDA

Question 4

What is AAFCO?

Answer 4

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Private, non profit org that publishes model regulations and establishes nutrient profiles (dog and cat)

Question 5

Is AAFCO an enforcement agency?

Answer 5

NO

Question 6

What three pieces of information are required to be on a pet food label principle display panel?

Answer 6

Product name
Designator (dog food or cat food)
Net weight display

Question 7

If a pet food is labeled to contain BEEF, there will be at least ____% total product by weight when made of beef in that food

Answer 7

70%

Question 8

If a pet food is labeled BEEF DINNER, there will be at least ____% total product by weight when made of beef in that food

Answer 8

10% canned
25% dry

(aka formula)

Question 9

If a pet food is labeled WITH BEEF, there will be at least ____% total product by weight when made of beef in that food

Answer 9

3%

Question 10

If a pet food is labeled BEEF FLAVOR, there will be at least ____% total product by weight when made of beef in that food

Answer 10

no percentage necessary - just needs to be recognizable by the pet… usually an artificial flavor or additive

Question 11

If the principal display label of a food has “100% nutritious” then what must also be on the bag or can somewhere? Is that a guaranteed statement?

Answer 11

There must be feeding instructions on the back label

This is a voluntary statement that is not guaranteed

Question 12

Feeding directions on food labeled “less” or “reduced fat” must reflect a reduction in _____

Answer 12

calories

Question 13

Are natural and organic the same?

Answer 13

No

Natural: all ingredients derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources

Question 14

Is “human grade” ingredients something you will see on a pet food label?

Answer 14

No. It is not allowed bc there is no finite definition

Question 15

T/F: AAFCO has organic standards

Answer 15

FALSE

USDA standards are applied (animal foods must meed the standards required for human foods to be labeled organic)

Question 16

What items can be found on the information panel of a pet food?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is the nutritional adequacy statement?

Answer 17

aka the AAFCO statement

Examples: intended for intermittent or supplemental use

Use only as directed by your veterinarian

Growth, maintenance etc

Question 18

What does complete for all life stages mean when on a pet food label?

Answer 18

This means that it will address the most energy demanding stages of life: Growth, gestation, and lactation

Therefore, it will exceed some energy requirements for certain stages of life

Question 19

What methods are nutrition statements based on?

Answer 19

Formulation method: “formulated to meed the AAFCO dog food nutrient profile for….”

Feeding trial protocol method: “….substantiated by feeding tests performed in accordance with the procedures established by AAFCO…”

Question 20

What method of nutritional statement claim is best for animals in stressful stages of life? (gestation, lactation, growth, working dogs, outdoor dogs etc)

Answer 20

Diets that have passed a feeding trial

Question 21

What petfoods do not have a statement of adequacy?

Answer 21

Snacks or treats

Veterinary medical foods (many of these will just rec. to consult with your veterinarian)

Question 22

Must all ingredients added to a pet food be listed on the label?

Answer 22

YES

Official names and definitions must be used
(more than 600 ingredients are approved as being generally recognized as safe)

Question 23

In what order are ingredients listed on pet food labels?

Answer 23

In descending order by weight

on an “as is” basis at the time of manufacture

Question 24

What is the number one nutrient within the animal protein source in pet food?

Answer 24

Water

Question 25

What is listed within the guaranteed analysis?

Answer 25

Crude protein (min)
Crude fat (min) 
Crude fiber (max)
Moisture (max)

Question 26

What determines the dietary protein quality within a pet food?

Answer 26

Ingredient quality

Question 27

Crude fat provides an estimate of the diet’s _________ density

Answer 27

Energy

Question 28

What information regarding fiber is more important than the crude fiber?

Answer 28

Total dietary fiber

Question 29

What is the maximum moisture content allowed on a pet food label, WITHOUT including a modifier like “in gravy”, or “in sauce:?

Answer 29

78%

Question 30

T/F: A statement of calorie content must be on all petfoods and treats

Answer 30

TRUE

As of January 2017

Question 31

Petfoods labeled as “ _____ & ________” must have feeding directions

Answer 31

complete and balanced

Question 32

What are the three key items of importance on petfood labels?

Answer 32

Designator (on principle display panel)
Nutrition statement (on information panel)
Energy density (on information panel)