Reading and
Understanding Pet Food Labels
Posted by: Dr. Lorie
Huston // February 3, 2012
Choosing a good pet food can be a daunting and confusing
process — even the names of pet foods can sometimes be misleading.
Nevertheless, learning how to properly read a pet food label is a must for any
responsible pet parent.
Here are a few tips to help you better understand pet
food labels:
According to the Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO), if a product name advertises a single ingredient of animal
origin, such as “beef” or “tuna”, the food must contain at least 95% of that
ingredient, not including added water. If there is a combination, such as “beef
and turkey”, the combination must comprise 95% of the food. This applies
primarily to canned foods.
If the product name of either a dry or canned food
contains a descriptive phrase, such as “dinner”, “platter”, “entrée” or
similar, the food must contain at least 25% of the named ingredient. However,
the ingredient named may not necessarily be the primary ingredient in the food.
With these foods, checking the ingredient list is necessary to determine what
else is in the food.
For those products that carry a name that states “with” a
specific ingredient, such as “with cheese”, that ingredient need only make up
3% of the total product.
Products that advertise specific “flavors”, such as
“chicken flavor” or “beef flavor”, need to contain only a detectable amount of
that ingredient.
Pet Food Lables
Once you’ve looked at and deciphered the
product name, take a look at the list of ingredients. Ingredients must be
listed by weight. It is important to remember, though, that the weight includes
the ingredient’s moisture content as well. This can become important in
evaluating the presence of ingredients with different amounts of moisture.
Also, a guaranteed analysis is included on the packaging
of most pet foods, which will usually list the minimum amount of protein and
fat by percentage and the maximum amount of fiber and moisture (again, by
percentage). When comparing the guaranteed analysis of two different pet foods,
a more accurate analysis is possible when the analysis is converted to a dry
matter basis. Otherwise, the moisture content can significantly skew the
comparison. Comparing the guaranteed analysis of a dry food to a canned food
without taking into account the moisture content is a bit like comparing apples
to oranges.
Another good practice is to look for a nutritional
adequacy statement on the label. This statement will indicate that the product
is “complete and balanced” and will usually indicate whether the product is
recommended for a specific phase, such as growth or maintenance. Nutritional
adequacy may be determined by animal feeding trials or by providing a level of
nutrients that meets an established nutrient profile. Feeding trials are
considered a more accurate means of assessment in most cases.
Feeding directions should also be included on the label
for your pet’s food. Though these directions provide a guideline for feeding,
your individual pet may have a different requirement. Consult your veterinarian
(or a veterinary nutritionist) for guidance if you are unsure how much or how
often to feed your pet.
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