Interpreting Pet Food Labels pgs 304- 317

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Interpreting Pet Food Labelspgs 304- 317
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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.
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How its made
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Three basic physical forms of pet food

• Dry
• Semi moist
• Wet (or canned or moist)
• These three forms vary primarily in water content

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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.
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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
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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
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• 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
  foods total energy density

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

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Raw Diets

• Food in its natural uncooked state.
• Cautions bacteria and diets that are complete
  and balanced.

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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.

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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.

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PRODUCT NAMEWhat 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.
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THE 95 RULEThis applies to products consisting
primarily of meat, poultry or fish.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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
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The primary ingredient is not always the named
ingredient so Chicken Formula Cat Food may
contain more fish than chicken.
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THE 3 RULEor the with ruleThis 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.
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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).
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