 Pet food labels provide the pet owner with a great deal of information. But what does that information mean? When evaluating potential diets, you may want to know more about what you are reading. Here is a rundown of the types of information you may find on a dog food label.
Guaranteed Analysis
Certain nutrient guarantees are required on the label of all pet foods. These are:
- % Crude protein (minimum amount)
- % Crude fat (minimum amount)
- % Crude fiber (maximum amount)
- % Moisture (maximum amount)
If the manufacturer desires to list any additional guarantees such as vitamins and minerals, in the units defined by AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials, an independent body that sets guidelines for the pet food industry), these will be shown after moisture.
The reason for the word crude is that the minimum or maximum amount shown is determined by lab assay and is not the amount actually utilized by the animal. Consequently, figures given in the guaranteed analyses do not necessarily indicate nutritional balance or product quality.
Ingredient Listing
All ingredients used in the manufacture of the pet food are listed in the ingredient statement on the label. The ingredients are listed in descending order of predominance (by weight).
Nutritional Adequacy
The best way to evaluate potential product performance is through: the nutritional adequacy statements (AAFCO) on the package, by the reputation of the manufacturer, and by past product performance.
Feeding Directions
Information in this section should also include the amount of food recommended, which will be a "rule of thumb" or a starting point. Actual feeding amount will depend on age, activity, size, environment and body metabolism, and is best determined by the owner observing his dog's body condition.
Dog food labeled as complete and balanced for a specific life stage or all life stages is required to list feeding directions for each life stage declared on the product label. These directions are expressed in common terms and appear prominently on the label.
Caloric Statement
Caloric statements are not required, but may be listed on dog food labels. Calories are stated in terms of metabolizable kilocalories per kilogram (ME kcal/kg) of food and may also be expressed as calories per unit of household measure such as per cup or per can.
Manufacturers may determine the calorie content of their products through calculations based on laboratory analysis of the products or through feeding trial procedures established by AAFCO.
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