Is purina dog food aafco approved by the FDA?
If you have looked closely at your dog's food label, you may have noticed a reference to AAFCO on the bag.What does AAFCO do?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials is voluntary.Federal and state officials, veterinarians, scientists, and more are part of the group.
They are tasked with identifying safe ingredients, outlining pet food label requirements and building nutrient profiles based on the latest findings in pet nutrition research.When creating their pet food regulations, states use AAFCO's guidelines as a baseline.
AAFCO doesn't have the authority to inspect, approve or regulate dog food.
AAFCO does not regulate the pet food industry.
The standards for quality pet nutrition are set by AAFCO, not by the pet food industry.
A dog food can only be described as complete and balanced if it meets or exceeds AAFCO's minimum requirements.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials created a set of profiles for dog and cat food.
The profiles were not created until 1991.The cat food profiles were created in 1992.New, science-based nutrition information became available in 2016 according to the FDA.
When new research in pet nutrition is available, these profiles are updated.Practical guidance for pet food manufacturers is provided by them.
Variations of these profiles can be seen on dog food packaging.It is possible for a food to state it is formulated for puppies or pregnant mothers.
Adult Maintenance and Growth and Reproduction are the two AAFCO nutrient profiles.It is possible for dog food manufacturers to develop and market a product that is suitable for all life stages.
Foods formulated for puppies or pregnant women may state they are for them.
To claim a dog food product is complete and balanced, it must be evaluated.There are two ways to evaluate a dog food.