Part Two: Pet Food Labels

Reading pet food labels is important for every pet parent who wants to ensure that their furry companions receive the best nutrition. Understanding these labels helps you to make informed choices, ensuring that your pet’s dietary needs are met and that you avoid potential allergens or harmful ingredients. We’ve created this guide so you can better understand the essential aspects of reading pet food labels. Depending on where your pet food is manufactured different labelling rules apply, here we’ll cover AAFCO standards (USA), FEDIAF (European) guidelines, and general legal requirements for all pet food labels. 

How to Understand Pet Food Labels 

Pet food labels can be complex but breaking them down into manageable sections can make them easier to understand. Here’s a step-by-step approach: 

1. Product Name and Description: The name of the product often indicates the primary ingredient. For example, “Chicken Dinner” should contain a minimum of 10% chicken in the USA and a minimum of 26% chicken in Europe. The exact amount is specified as a percentage, depending on the manufacturing location. Be wary of vague terms like “with chicken” or “chicken flavour,” which may indicate minimal amounts of the actual ingredient.1 

2. Ingredients List/Composition: Ingredients are listed by weight, starting with the heaviest. Look for named protein sources (e.g. chicken, beef).  Terms like “meat meal” generally include fresh meat, including bones and cartilage and undergoes a cooking process which removes the water from the meat and creates a dry powder. Meat meals are used in pet food to create a kibble which is high in quality protein and more nutrient dense (since it takes 3 to 5 kgs of fresh meat to produce 1kg of a meat meal).2 “Grains, including corn, wheat, oats, rice, barley, and rye, are used in pet food for their fibre and as a source of carbohydrates, which provide a readily available form of essential glucose. Corn and other ingredients, often thought of as “fillers”, provide some nutrients and can also be a good energy source. For example, corn contains carbohydrates, protein, and essential fatty acids.3 

3. Nutritional Adequacy Statement: This statement indicates if the food meets the nutritional levels established by AAFCO or FEDIAF. It should specify if the food is suitable for all life stages, growth, reproduction or maintenance, helping you choose the most appropriate food according to your pet’s age and whether they’re pregnant or lactating. 

4. Feeding Guidelines: These are recommendations on how much to feed your pet in daily quantity, to ensure they receive an appropriate amount and balance of nutrients for their age and lifestyle. They are general guidelines and may need adjustment based on your pet’s individual body condition, age, weight, activity level, and overall health. 

Guaranteed Analysis / Analytical Constituents 

The guaranteed analysis section typically provides the minimum amount of protein and fat and the maximum amounts of fibre and moisture in the food. It typically includes: 

  • Crude protein: Essential for muscle development and energy. 
  • Crude fat: Important for energy and cell function. 
  • Crude fibre: Aids in digestion and gut health. 
  • Moisture: Indicates the water content of the food. 
  • Crude ash: This must be declared in Europe* 

Additional nutrients like vitamins and minerals may also be listed. Comparing these values can help to ensure your pet receives a balanced diet. However, it’s crucial when comparing different products, particularly wet and dry foods, that the moisture is removed from these values to give an accurate depiction of nutrient levels. This is called a Dry Matter (DM) calculation and there are many online calculators that can help you to work this out.  

AAFCO Standards 

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets nutritional standards for pet foods in the USA. Pet foods that meet AAFCO standards have either undergone feeding trials and/or have been formulated to meet established nutrient profiles. The AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement is a key indicator of a well-balanced diet. 

FEDIAF Guidelines 

In Europe, the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) provides guidelines to ensure that pet foods meet the appropriate nutritional standards for various life stages, similar to AAFCO in the USA. FEDIAF guidelines are essential for pet parents to identify pet food options appropriate for their pet’s individual life stage and lifestyle. Pet food labels that follow FEDIAF guidelines, must also contain a statement declaring whether the product is nutritionally ‘complete’ or ‘complementary’, similar to the AAFCO ‘nutritional adequacy’ statement. 

Legal Requirements of Pet Food Labels 

Pet food labeling is regulated to ensure transparency and safety. Key legal requirements may differ depending on the country of manufacture, but should always include4: 

  • Proper Identification: The product name, species it is intended for, and the manufacturer’s name and contact information must be clearly displayed. 
  • Net Quantity Statement/Net Weight: This declares the total amount of food in the package. 
  • Ingredient List/Composition: All ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight. They may also be listed according to individual names or category. 
  • Nutritional Adequacy Statement: Indicates if the food is complete and balanced for a specific life stage. 
  • Feeding Directions: Provides guidelines on how much to feed your pet. 
  • Best Before Date: This indicates the minimum storage life for the food. 
  • Batch Numbers: This facilitates the traceability of the food. 
  • Additives: If preservatives, antioxidants or colourants have been added to the food, these must be legally declared on the label (in Europe). These regulations are provided to help maintain food safety and ensure standardisation to inform and protect consumers.  

To further understand pet food labelling or for more information on these regulations, visit the FDA’s pet food labeling guidelines. 

Understanding pet food labels is key to ensuring your pet’s health and well-being. By knowing what to look for in terms of ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and adherence to AAFCO or FEDIAF standards, you can make more informed decisions on what to feed your pet.  

Taking the time to educate yourself about pet food labels is a valuable step towards providing your pet with the best possible nutrition. Always look for transparent labeling and be wary of vague or misleading terms.   

For further reading, consider exploring AAFCO and FEDIAF official publications, or consult your veterinarian for personalised advice unique to your pet. 

For further insight into your pet’s health care needs, download our 2024 Pet Health Monitor here. 

*Ash represents the mineral content of the food and is determined chemically by the burning of the product. % of ash is labelled as one of the following terms ‘crude ash’, ‘incinerated residue’ or ‘inorganic matter’ 

Sources

1 European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). (n.d.). Pet Food Fact Sheets. Available at: https://europeanpetfood.org/pet-food-facts/fact-sheets/  

2 Understanding pet food ingredients – What is a meal (e.g. chicken meal)? n.d., Healthy Pet Foods, Healthy Pet Foods, <www.healthypetfoods.co.nz/health-nutrition/understanding-pet-food-ingredients-what-is-a-meal-eg-chicken-meal >. 

3 Purina Institute. (2021). Grains are a Rich Source of Nutrients for Pets. Available at: https://www.purinainstitute.com/sites/default/files/2021-05/Grains-Are-a-Rich-Source-of-Nutrients-for-Pets.pdf  

4 Pet Food Industry Association of Australia (PFIAA) 2023, ‘Pet food labelling: Keeping up the standard’, PFIAA, https://pfiaa.com.au/pet-food-labelling-keeping-up-the-standard/ 

Dry Matter Basis Online Calculator n.d., Pet Food Sherpa, <https://petfoodsherpa.com/dry-matter-basis-calculator>. 

Understanding Pet Food Labelling 2022, UK Pet Food, UK Pet Food,  <https://www.ukpetfood.org/resource/labelling-factsheet.html>. 

Understanding pet food ingredients – What is a meal (e.g. chicken meal)? n.d., Healthy Pet Foods, <https://www.healthypetfoods.co.nz/health-nutrition/understanding-pet-food-ingredients-what-is-a-meal-eg-chicken-meal/#:~:text=To%20create%20a%20meat%20meal%2C%20fresh%20meat%2C%20generally,of%20fresh%20meat%20to%20produce%201kg%20of%20meal%29.>. 

European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). (n.d.). Pet Food Fact Sheets. Available at: https://europeanpetfood.org/pet-food-facts/fact-sheets/  

Purina Institute. (2021). Grains are a Rich Source of Nutrients for Pets. Available at: https://www.purinainstitute.com/sites/default/files/2021-05/Grains-Are-a-Rich-Source-of-Nutrients-for-Pets.pdf. 

European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). (n.d.). Understanding Pet Food Labels. Available at: https://europeanpetfood.org/pet-food-facts/fact-sheets/nutrition/understanding-pet-food-labels/  

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (n.d.). Pet Food. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-food-feeds/pet-food  

Pet Food Institute. (2021). Understanding Pet Food Labels. Retrieved from Pet Food Institute. 

American Kennel Club. (2021). Decoding Dog Food Labels. Retrieved from AKC. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Pet Food Labels – General. Retrieved from FDA. 

Association of American Feed Control Officials. (2021). AAFCO Pet Food Labeling Guide. Retrieved from AAFCO. 

European Pet Food Industry Federation. (2021). FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines. Retrieved from FEDIAF. 

National Research Council. (2006). Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats. National Academies Press. 

Veterinary Practice News. (2021). The Importance of Guaranteed Analysis on Pet Food Labels. Retrieved from Veterinary Practice News. 

Pet Food Institute. (2021). AAFCO Pet Food Standards. Retrieved from Pet Food Institute. 

European Pet Food Industry Federation. (2021). FEDIAF Guidelines for Complete Pet Foods. Retrieved from FEDIAF. 

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2021). Labeling & Nutrition Guidance for Pet Food. Retrieved from FDA. 

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