The ABC's of Reading Pet Food Labels

I'm going to expand some on my last blog.  I have recently gotten into reading labels a lot for my family's nutritional health and since I consider my cat part of the family I have to learn to read pet food labels too.  I will do this over several blogs since it can be dry reading!

It is amazing how little information is required to be on the label of a bag or can of pet food.  According to the FDA, proper identification of product, net quantity statement, manufacturer's name and address, and proper listing of ingredients are the only requirements for a bag/can of pet food.  Many states have also adopted the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) regulations which are more specific.  I will focus on AAFCO regulations since most diets will follow these.

The name of a food is a very important factor in most consumer's decision to buy a food.  To prevent companies from misleading the consumer about what is in a food there are a few definitions imposed on them. 

• A product can only be labeled "Beef for dogs"  or "Salmon for cats" if the meat product makes up 95% of the total weight of ingredients (not counting added water).  These foods are typically canned food. This definitions only applies to animal based products in the diet.
• The "dinner" rule means that if a food is labeled a dinner (or entree, platter, nuggets, formula, etc.) such as "Classic turkey dinner", it must contain at least 25% by weight of the named ingredient.  In this case turkey.  This means if your pet does not like a certain ingredient then a "dinner" flavor needs to be more closely analyzed.  A look at the ingredient list may find that it contains a significant amount of the unwanted meat.
• Combined dinner rule: I a food is labeled "Turkey and Rice Dinner" then the combined ingredients must equal 25% by weight of the total diet.  The first ingredient listed must be present in greater quantity than the second and the second ingredient must make up at least 3% by weight of the total ingredients.
• The "with" rule means that the named ingredient must make up at least 3% by weight of the diet.  So a canned cat food with a pretty picture of a beautiful salmon that is labeled "Gourmet Classic with Salmon" is only guaranteed to contain 3% salmon by weight.  The main ingredient could be anything else.
• The "flavor" rule simply means that the food must must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected.  A "Beef flavored dog food" does not need to actually contain any real beef.  Beef digest (materials treated with heat, enzymes and/or acids to form concentrated natural flavors) or beef stock can be what is added to provide the flavor.