| Dog food labeling and dog food regulation | | | | PFI dedicates itself to the following: |
| requirements are probably not something that you | | | | - Promote overall care and well being of pets |
| think about on a regular basis but if you are a pet | | | | - Support initiatives to advance the quality of dog |
| lover they are something you need to make a | | | | and cat food |
| priority to familiarize yourself with. The unfortunate | | | | - Support research in pet nutrition and the important |
| truth is that the rules and regulations that govern pet | | | | role of pets in our society |
| food have not been made to ensure that what your | | | | - Informing and educating the public on pet proper |
| dog is eating is nutritious, safe and is accurately | | | | feeding and pet care |
| reflected on the labeling of the food. | | | | - Representing the pet food industry before Federal |
| The truth is that the rules often allow for | | | | and State governments |
| manufacturers to lead consumers into false beliefs on | | | | Although these three separate agencies work |
| what they are feeding their dogs. The problem lies in | | | | diligently to protect the pet food industry, it's |
| the labeling specifics. For example, if your product | | | | important that you make an effort to learn to |
| says "With Chicken Flavor" the flavor only needs to | | | | understand and read the label on your dog's food. |
| be detectable but there does not have to be any | | | | Because even though there are food label regulations |
| actual chicken meat present in the product. How | | | | in place, they are full of loopholes and allow for clever |
| about one that's labeled "Beef Dinner", this product | | | | wording or lack of descriptions to be left out of your |
| only has to contain 25% Beef and even worse, a | | | | pet food labels. |
| product that says "With Beef" only has to contain at | | | | To start with the FDA does set forth this set of |
| least 3% beef! | | | | rules on all dog food labeling: |
| So even though you are buying a product that you | | | | - The product must be identified as a dog fd. |
| think is "With Beef" and in your mind that means it's | | | | - The weight, volume or count of the dog fd. |
| full of hearty beef, you better think again! What you | | | | - Name and location of the manufacturer |
| need to be looking for are whole products such as | | | | - Listing of all ingredients by their common name |
| beef, chicken, salmon or venison. If a product says | | | | - Listing of all ingredients in descending order by |
| "Salmon For Dogs", then at least 95% of that | | | | weight |
| product must be Salmon and/or 70% including the | | | | What's Missing |
| water. | | | | With all of these agencies and rules and regulations in |
| It's just too easy to be fooled into thinking you are | | | | place I'm sure you are wondering why this doesn't |
| purchasing a wholesome product for your dog. You | | | | take care of the quality issues within the pet food |
| need to be able to decipher the labeling on the | | | | industry. For starters, the AAFCO statements is only |
| products you are purchasing to ensure your dog is | | | | used on commercial pet foods. This means that |
| getting the nutrition you are intending them to get. | | | | anything produced under the "All Natural or |
| Currently the pet food industry is being monitored by | | | | Homemade" heading does not have to comply with |
| three different agencies. These agencies each play a | | | | this standard and cannot be compared. |
| different role in trying to ensure pet food safety. | | | | Next, you should note that when they design these |
| **FDA Center Veterinary Medicine** | | | | dog foods, they are just a base nutritional food. |
| The FDA division for Veterinary Medicine of course | | | | What I mean is, that they have not accounted for |
| deals with animals and one of their functions is to | | | | each dog's individual needs in any way. For example, |
| make sure that the ingredients that are used in pet | | | | my dog Rodeo is a Border Collie and works cattle |
| food are safe. The ingredients in pet food must also | | | | almost every weekend. He is an extremely active |
| serve a functional purpose such as nutrition, flavor or | | | | dog that requires high amounts of energy. This |
| vitamins and minerals. Any additional substances such | | | | means he needs an excellent quality food with good |
| as preservatives or additives must be specifically | | | | protein and quality carbohydrates along with balanced |
| approved before they can be added. | | | | fats, vitamins and minerals of course. This diet would |
| **Association of American Feed Control Officials** | | | | not be suitable for a small dog that lazes around the |
| - AAFCO is not a government agency like the FDA, | | | | house all day on the couch taking naps, living the |
| instead its members are made up of state and | | | | pampered pup life. |
| federal employees from various agencies and | | | | The point is that an AAFCO Nutrient Profile only |
| employees from pet food companies. They have | | | | gives an average standard for the dog fd. |
| additional rules and dog food label regulations on top | | | | manufactures to shoot for, so if they put the same |
| of the FDA regulations for pet foods. However, dog | | | | average amount of protein, vitamins, minerals, fat |
| fd. regulations vary from state to state and not all | | | | etc. in each dog food, then how can that possibly be |
| states agree to AAFCO regulations. | | | | the best quality for your dog and your neighbor's dog |
| - The AAFCO require dog fd. to obtain the AAFCO | | | | and his neighbor's dog? |
| Nutritional Adequacy Statement in order for them to | | | | Now certainly there is no way the dog food industry |
| utilize the term "complete and balanced" on their | | | | could possibly make a food for each an every dog |
| packaging. It's basically their way of guaranteed | | | | but making carbon copy foods is also not the |
| compliance for nutritional standards and statements | | | | answer. Obviously there still needs to be further |
| and ingredients. If a dog fd. product acquires the | | | | changes to address the quality of the ingredients and |
| AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement, it has met | | | | not just the quantities of the dog food. The fillers |
| the Nutritional Profile based on the laboratory testing | | | | and carbohydrates in dog fds. need to be addressed |
| or it has successfully passed a feeding trial on live | | | | as they are generally responsible for over half of the |
| dogs. | | | | make up of the dog fd. and yet hold little nutritional |
| Currently there are only two specific Nutrient Profiles | | | | value for your dog. The other concern here is how |
| being used: | | | | the unknown ingredients affect your dog's health and |
| - **Adult Maintenance | | | | specifically their digestion. |
| - **Growth, Lactation and Reproduction | | | | The biggest idea to get across here, is that you |
| **Pet Food Institute** | | | | really need to be reading those labels and if you feel |
| - The Pet Food Institute is the voice of the U.S. Pet | | | | strongly enough, make your voice heard. There is a |
| food manufacturers. It handles the industry's public | | | | definite need for new regulations and labeling laws. |
| education and media relations and a representative | | | | Write a letter, make a phone call - remember you |
| before the U.S. Congress and state and federal | | | | speak for your dog! |
| agencies. They organize informational seminars and | | | | With continued insistence from consumers the dog |
| educational programs and coordinate with other | | | | food industry is going to have to clean up their act |
| organizations. The PFI represents 98% of all dog and | | | | and improve their pet food labeling and their |
| cat food manufacturers in the U.S. | | | | products. For now, it's up to you to take charge of |
| **Please see resource box for links to these | | | | your precious pup's health and make that informed |
| agencies | | | | dog food brand decision and read those labels! |