Interpreting Pet Food Labels

pgs 304- 317

Ingredient quality has a significant effect on nutrient availability. Although strict guidelines for pet food ingredients must be met, standards for quality are not as well defined.Ingredients derived from animal tissues are sources of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus and other minerals. Ingredients derived from plant material is an excellent source of protein, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals.

How its made

Three basic physical forms of pet food

• Dry

• Semi moist

• Wet (or canned or moist)

• These three forms vary primarily in water content

Dry contains about 10% water and is the only form of food suitable for ad lib feeding. Dry, crunchy foods can be helpful in keeping teeth clean and reducing plaque buildup, but should not replace a dental health regiment. A disadvantage of dry food is a lower palatability compared to semi-moist or wet. Dry foods typically provide 1,300 to 2,000 kcal of ME per pound of food DM.

Semi-moist typically contains 25 – 35 % water. Advantages includes higher palatability, serving convenience, and easy storage. Disadvantage is the greater cost per serving and some semi-moist foods contain simple carbohydrates that are not recommended for diabetic cats or dogs. Contain approximately 1,200 – 1,350 kcal of ME per pound of food DM

Canned or wet foods contain about 75% moisture. These foods have the highest palatability but typically cost more per serving. These foods are less convenient to store.

Wet food contains higher levels of protein, phosphorus, sodium and fat on a DM basis. Contain approximately 1,600 – 2,300 kcal of ME per pound of food DM

• A complete food means that the food contains all of the required nutrients for a particular life stage in a bioavailable form.

• A balanced food contains all of the required nutrients in correct proportions relative to the food’s total energy density

Humectants: preservatives added that bind to water and inhibit mold and fungal growth.

Meat:

clean flesh from slaughtered animals and limits it to striated muscle associated with skeletal, tongue, diaphragm, heart, esophagus, viscera (all organs in chest and abdominal cavities) excludes intestinal content.

Natural, Organic, Holistic

• Natural: avoids chemically synthesized ingredients. Vitamin E is a natural preservative.

• Organic: foods not exposed to insecticides, antibiotics, growth hormones

• Holistic: no official definition

Raw Diets

• Food in its natural uncooked state.

• Cautions: bacteria and diets that are complete and balanced.

Crude Protein

• Crude protein is only an estimate of the protein contained. It is obtained by measuring the amount of nitrogen.

• On average protein contains 16% nitrogen.

• To calculate the estimated protein, we must first mathematically removed the water.

Protein Requirements

• Unfortunately, the essential-to-nonessential amino acid profile, protein digestibility, and amino acid bioavailability may or may not be measured or stated on pet food labels.

• It is best to contact the manufacturer directly to obtain this information.

• Lower quantities of a higher biologic quality protein usually represent a higher quality food, and thus, a more appropriate nutritional objective.

PRODUCT NAME:What is in a name?

Product names are dictated by the percentages of named

ingredients. The AAFCO has four primary percentage rules.

These rules pertain to the animal based protein only.

THE 95% RULE:This applies to products

consisting primarily of meat, poultry or fish.

These foods have simple names such as Beef for Dogs or Tuna Cat Food. At least 95% of the

product must be the named ingredient (by weight), not

counting the water added for processing. Counting the added water, the named ingredient must

still comprise 70% of the product.

If the food name includes a combination of protein ingredients

then the two together must comprise 95% of the total weight. The first ingredient named must

be the one of higher predominance.

Eg. Chicken and beef dog food must contain a higher % of

chicken

The 95% rule only applies to ingredients of animal origin. Grains can not be used as a

component of the 95% total. For example, a Lamb and Rice dog food would be misnamed unless

the product contained at least 95% lamb.

THE 25% RULEIf the named ingredients comprise

at least 25% of the product but less than 95% then the pet food name must include a qualifying

descriptive term such as “dinner, platter, entrée, nuggets or

formula” Therefore “Beef Dinner for Dogs”

only has to contain ¼ beef

The primary ingredient is not always the named ingredient so Chicken Formula Cat Food may contain more fish than chicken.

THE 3% RULEor the “with” rule

This rule was intended to apply to ingredients that appeared outside the product name.

Therefore label may include a sideburst is at least 3% of that

ingredient is added.

AAFCO also allows the term “with” indicating that 3% of that ingredient has been added. This

can become confusing for the consumer because Cat Food with Tuna (3% tuna) is very different from Tuna Cat Food (95% tuna).