In 2007, when thousands of pets became ill or died from pet food contamination and recalls continued for months, the pet food industry claimed it was highly regulated and therefore trustworthy. Clearly, that was then and it still isn’t true. There are regulations that apply to pet foods, but almost all of them apply only to the post-production period, meaning labels, marketing, and advertising. What goes into pet food and how it’s made is largely unregulated. And yet, labels can provide a wealth of information about that very process, telling you about food quality and helping you decide which ones to avoid and which are the best and healthiest foods for your pets.
Despite all the “fine print” and vague terms on the average pet food label, the rules that govern pet food labels are pretty simple. Once you know these few basic rules, you’ll scan the label like a pro and really understand what it says, what it means, and if it’s good for your pet.
First, let’s take a look at who makes the rules. There are two main groups involved: the state governments and the federal government. At the federal level, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are involved. At the state level, the state department of agriculture in most states (a different department in some states) designates one or more of its feed control officers, the people who inspect all animal feed, including animal feed. pets, to participate. The body to which these representatives belong is called the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). The AAFCO is not itself a regulatory body and does not conduct any tests or enforce any laws.
Every year, the AAFCO hosts meetings to discuss possible changes needed and publishes a book that contains everything an animal or pet food manufacturer needs to know: what levels of nutrients are needed in a food, the rules that govern labels and how to test. These are “model” regulations that can then be adopted by states, where they then become law. Only about half of the states have adopted the AAFCO rules; and several others have something similar in the books. However, for shipping nationally, all major pet food companies follow AAFCO guidelines to avoid problems when inspectors check their food.
There is a lot of confusion about AAFCO, and many writers have accused the organization of being “the fox guarding the roost” because their book lists not only government officials, but also a long list of industry “advisers.” , including many pet food companies. However, these advisers are basically lobbyists; they have some influence with officials, like any government lobbyist, but they don’t make the rules. State and federal representatives are the only voting members with the power to change the rules. AAFCO takes its role in protecting consumers very seriously and has rejected many attempts by the pet food industry to change ingredient names, label requirements and other elements that would make it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions.
So what does all this mean for your pet? First, this knowledge helps you understand how laws and rules do and do not protect your pet. And second, and perhaps more importantly, as a result of this understanding, you will be better equipped to evaluate other information you may find in books or on the Internet. After all, those who have a misconception of how pet food regulation really works are probably wrong about other things too, so you probably shouldn’t take their advice!