Aafco Feeding Trials Dog Food List

Only 8 animals either dogs or cats need to participate in the feeding trial.

Aafco feeding trials dog food list.

But feeding trials as they re currently allowed absolutely do not make up for those pitfalls. The aafco essentially details what ingredients a dog food label must contain in order to claim complete and balanced. There is no restriction regarding breed or sex. Our members are charged by their local state or federal laws to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies.

At the association of american feed control officials aafco mid year meeting held in anaheim california usa on january 23 2018 the pet food committee was supposed to get an update on a working group s progress of their review of the current aafco feeding protocols to account for growth of large size dogs. Rather it establishes model labeling standards for manufacturers regarding the ingredient list and nutritional formula and recommends laws or regulations to implement those guidelines. Unfortunately due to the us federal government shutdown in january the. The association of american feed control officials aafco is a voluntary membership association of local state and federal agencies.

What does it mean if a dog food has been validated using an aafco feeding trial. If this method. Meet one of the dog or cat food nutrient profiles established by the association of american feed control officials aafco. If it does the dog food label will read product name is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the aafco dog food nutrient profiles aafco compliant feeding trial.

Only 6 of these 8 need to complete the trial which lasts for just 26 weeks. An unqualified reference to an aafco dog or cat food nutrient profile is an implied guarantee that the product contains the minimum concentrations for all nutrients in the profile and no more than any maximum. Some companies use feeding trials to validate claims that their products are nutritionally complete and balanced. Pass a feeding trial using aafco procedures.

What you see on a dog food package is required by law. The agency doesn t endorse any dog food. Many consider an aafco feeding trial to be the gold standard when verifying the nutrient quality of any commercial dog food. All dog food must have labels that include the product name weight manufacturer s name and address ingredient list guaranteed analysis nutritional adequacy statement and feeding directions.

In addition to the laboratory analysis this method includes feeding trials with real dogs to demonstrate the food s nutritional values. That said aafco only ensures that your dog will not starve to death while eating the food. A feeding trial and does not meet the aafco dog or cat food nutrient profiles the label cannot reference the profiles. Take a look at your dog s food.

During the trial the only food available to the test animals is the food being tested.