Sarasota Animal Hospital
 | | |
| |
|
Processing ....|
Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Regulations and Statements  What are AAFCO standards? What are AAFCO statements? What is the best choice for my pet? The term AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. A basic goal of AAFCO is to provide a mechanism for developing and implementing uniform and equitable laws, regulations, standards and enforcement policies for regulating the manufacture, distribution and sale of animal feeds; resulting in safe, effective, and useful feeds. The Association thereby promotes new ideas and innovative procedures and urges their adoption by member agencies, for uniformity.
AAFCO set standards for pet food, requiring that each food meet a set standard minimum and maximum nutrients. These standards are established for feeding requirements for differing developmental groups. These groups tell us who the food is made for and include:
1. Adult Maintenance 2. Growth
3. Gestation (pregnant) / Lactation (milking)
4. All Life Stages
5. (there is no standard for senior pets) The fulfillment of these requirements can be tested by one of two common ways: 1. Feeding trials 2. Laboratory analysis back to top Each pet food displays on their label (near the ingredient list) a statement showing which developmental group(s) the food is appropriate for and what testing requirements were used to assure that these requirements were met. Examples of these statements follow:
Feeding trials: Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ABC Dog/Cat Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for (appropriate life stage).
Laboratory analysis: ABC Dog/Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog/Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for (appropriate life stage).
Following are a few examples of AAFCO statements from some common pet foods:
   The best assurance of adequate nutrients is established by the feeding trial method. In this method, the food is actually fed to a group of pets and nutritional properties tested to assure that what they expect the food to do actually happens. The other model just uses laboratory testing to determine the efficacy before selling the food to us for use in our pets. That would be like manufacturing a watch according to instructions but never testing if it tells time accurately before selling the watch, sometimes for a very high price!
So, if a food is labeled for "all life stages", it meets minimum requirements for adult maintenance, growth and gestation/lactation. Remember, that growing puppies and kittens require much higher levels of certain nutrients and that these higher levels could actually be detrimental to older pets. So, it is in the best interest of our pets to provide tested food for them within their specific AAFCO standards. For example, your 8 year old dog or cat's food should display the label "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ABC Dog/Cat Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for adult maintenance". Second best is food that had been tested for all life stages or either formulated for a specific developmental group. Least favored is a food that has been formulated for all life stages. If there is every any doubt, please ask your veterinarian for help. We'll be more than happy to assist you in what you may need. back to top   |
