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Did you know? AAFCO Doesn’t Approve Pet Foods!
- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 3 years, 9 months ago by crazy4cats.
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Despite what you may read, there is no such thing as âAAFCO-approvedâ or âAAFCO-certifiedâ pet foods! The Association of American Feed Control Officials â better known as AAFCO â is an important association of local, state, and federal officials. AAFCO creates model language for definitions, guidance, and best-practices related to the regulation of pet foods, but it doesnât âregulate, test, approve or certify pet food.â (AAFCO Talks Pet Food). Each individual state has its own feed laws, regulations, and policies and, while most states base them on AAFCOâs Model Bill and Model Regulations, it is the local, state, and federal authorities that actually regulate pet food.
I was recently reminded of this common misconception about âAAFCO-approvedâ pet foods when a veterinarian asked whether a certain new cat food was a good one to recommend. I have a standard process to answer that question for any manufacturer Iâm not familiar with (which isnât uncommon since there are more than 200 different manufacturers in the United States, with many new ones popping up every year). Rather than making the common mistakes, such as focusing on the ingredient list or ratings websites, my first step is to ask the important and more informative questions weâve discussed before to ensure the manufacturer has the necessary nutritional expertise and quality control.
When I looked at the cat food manufacturerâs website to try to answer these questions, one of the things that caught my eye was a statement that all their foods were âAAFCO-approvedâ. This is not new â Iâve seen many other pet foods make this claim and have even heard veterinarians recommend buying a pet food that is âAAFCO-certified.â Hopefully, after reading this post, Petfoodology readers will know that there is no such thing! Perpetuation of this myth by a pet food manufacturer is a red flag and suggests that they probably donât have a clear understanding of how pet food is regulated.
Since there is not a national or even state agency that approves pet foods or regularly tests every manufacturerâs products, we emphasize the criteria promoted by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association which highlight the importance of nutritional expertise and rigorous quality control to ensure youâre feeding a high quality food to your pet, rather than just one with good marketing. Pet food labels currently provide very little useful information and I find that most pet owners are misreading the information that is on the label. Asking the right questions can help you make a more informed decision about your petâs food.
Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN
Lisa M. Freeman, DVM, PhD, DACVN
Dr. Freeman is a veterinary nutritionist and a professor at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. She is on the cutting-edge of science, with hundreds of articles in prestigious journals, speaking engagements at national and international conferences, and awards for her scientific achievements. However, she also is passionate about providing objective and accurate information on pet nutrition to veterinarians, pet owners, and other animal enthusiasts. -
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Recent Topics
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Innovations in pet care
by Troy Lex
2 weeks, 2 days ago
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Good dog food for almost 16 year old with elevated liver enzymes and beg kindey
by Kelly S
1 week, 3 days ago
-
Discounts & On Sale Items for Dog Supplies
by Emma Monty
3 weeks, 5 days ago
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FREEZE DRIED RAW AND ZERO REASONABLE STORE BOUGHT OPTIONS
by Sara Smith
2 months, 1 week ago
-
Homemade dog food questions
by Melissa Francis
1 month ago
Recent Replies
- Azeem Shafique on Feeding my Cocker Spaniel
- Carolyn Callahan on Nitrate content of Farmland Traditions Chicken Jerky treats?
- Eileen Turner on Good dog food for almost 16 year old with elevated liver enzymes and beg kindey
- Rebecca Tan on Cat Lane review
- Rob Bruhn on Budget friendly dog foods
- Kenneth H. Rainey on Cat Lane review
- Kenneth H. Rainey on Is there high quality kibble with hard and soft bites?
- Rebecca Tan on Cat Lane review
- Disha Oberoi on Skin and stomach issues
- Abigail Haynes on FREE 1lb Prime100 SPD Fresh Roll
- Emma Monty on best multivitamin?
- Emma Monty on Budget friendly dog foods
- Emma Monty on Does anyone here make their own home cooked dog food?
- eva on Homemade dog food questions
- Don Campbell on My Dog Hasn't Been the Same Ever Since Dental Cleaning