Reading Food Labels

The AAFCO Association of American Feed Control Officials Regulates the pet food industry Consists of: ◦ State representatives ◦ Federal representatives ◦ People directly involved in the industry Not a government body.

AAFCO They are the reason why pet food manufacturers can't use a more honest, descriptive labeling system. ◦ Less opportunity to make a product look better than it actually is. ◦ Would be bad for companies that sell poor quality food if they had to be honest and descriptive.

Information on the Label 1. Product Name 2. Net Quantity Statement 3. Manufacturer’s name and address 4. Ingredient List 5. Guaranteed Analysis 6. Feeding Directions

1. Product Name First part of the label noticed by the consumer Key factor in the consumer's decision to buy the product Manufacturers often use fanciful names or other techniques to emphasize a particular aspect.

1. Product Name If a food is named specifically, the named ingredient must not be less than 95% of the total weight. ◦ Ex: "Beef Dog Food“ ◦ Does not include water weight ◦ No less than 70% if the water weight is included If more than one ingredient is named, all of them combined must not be less than 95% (or 70%). ◦ Ex: “Beef and Liver Dog Food” ◦ First name is the greater amount.

1. Product Name If a food name includes the word "dinner“, "formula", or "nuggets“, the named ingredient must not be less than 25% of the total weight. ◦ Ex: “Lamb Formula“ If more than one ingredient is named, all of them combined must not be less than 25%. ◦ Ex: "Lamb and Rice Formula“ ◦ One present in greater amount named first.

1. Product Name If the name of a food includes the phrase "with [ingredient]“, the named ingredient must not be less than 3% of the total weight. ◦ Ex: "with beef“ Not be descriptive of the product at all! ◦ Ex: "Product X With Real Lamb and Rice“  Ground yellow corn, chicken byproduct meal, wheat, animal fat, corn gluten meal, lamb, rice, natural poultry flavor, salt, minerals, vitamins...

1. Product Name If a name only includes the word "flavor" or "flavored", no specific percentage is required at all. ◦ Ex: "Product X with Liver Flavor”  Ground yellow corn, poultry byproduct meal, brewers rice, soybean meal, beef tallow, corn gluten meal, brewers dried yeast, digest of beef liver, natural flavors, salt, vitamins, minerals...

Quick Review! 1. Does the name matter to consumers? 2. “Lamb Dog Food” requires what percentage of lamb? 3. “Product Y with chicken” requires what percentage of chicken? 4. “Fish nuggets” requires what percentage of fish? 5. “Product Y, beef flavored” requires what percentage of beef?

2. Net Quantity Statement Tells you how much product is in the container. 2 containers that are the same size could contain different amounts of food. ◦ Ex: a 14-ounce can of food may look identical to the 1-pound (16-ounce) can of food right next to it

2. Net Quantity Statement A 33 lb bag of one brand may be more expensive than a 40 lb bag of another. ◦ The smaller bag may contain a more concentrated food requiring you to feed a lot less.

2. Net Quantity Statement A bag that may typically hold 40 pounds of food may only hold 35 pounds of a “lite” food ◦ “Lite” food is "puffed up” and lighter

2. Net Quantity Statement Smaller the bag, the higher the price per pound. ◦ A 5 lb bag costs $8, the price per pound is $1.60 ◦ A 10 lb bag costs $13, the price per pound is $1.30 ◦ A 20 lb bag costs $21, the price per pound is $1.05 ◦ A 40 lb bag costs $32, the price per pound is $0.80 ◦ paying twice the amount per pound when you buy the smallest bag

3. Manufacturer’s Name and Address Identifies the name and location of the party responsible for the quality and safety of the product. If the label says "manufactured for..." or "distributed by...," they are the responsible party.

3. Manufacturer’s Name and Address Not all labels include a street address along with the city, State, and zip code. But, by law, it should be listed in either a city directory or a telephone directory. Many manufacturers also include a toll- free number on the label for consumer questions or concerns.

Quick Review!! 1. What does the net quantity statement tell you? 2. Why could one small bag of feed be more expensive than a larger bag of a similar food? 3. What is one benefit of buying a larger bag of food? 4. Is an address always listed?

4. Ingredient List Ingredients listed in order from greatest to least amount. Main ingredients are typically listed before the first fat ingredient. ◦ Ex 1: Ground yellow corn, meat meal, chicken fat, ground wheat, chicken byproduct meal, dried beet pulp, flaxseed, salt, vitamins, minerals… ◦ Ex 2: Turkey, chicken, chicken meal, ground barley, ground brown rice, potatoes, ground white rice, chicken fat, herring, apples, carrots, cottage cheese, sunflower oil, alfalfa sprouts, egg, garlic, probiotics, vitamins, minerals...

4. Ingredient List Ingredient lists can be manipulated in various ways to make a product look more attractive than it really is. Listing a plain ingredient includes its water weight. ◦ Once it is dehydrated, it is not present in such a large amount.  Ex 1: Lamb, brewers rice, brown rice, poultry fat, rice flour, beet pulp, rice bran…  Ex 2: Brown rice, chicken meal, chicken fat, fish meal, flax seed meal...

4. Ingredient List More examples: ◦ Ex 3: Chicken, chicken byproduct meal, brown rice, oatmeal, corn meal, chicken fat… ◦ Ex 4: Chicken meal, chicken byproducts, brown rice, oatmeal, corn meal, chicken fat...

4. Ingredient List Animal protein sources in “meal” form come from: 1.High quality carcasses  Ex: Chicken Meal, Lamb Meal 2.Any leftovers after high quality cuts have been removed.  Ex: Meat and Bone Meal, Chicken by-products  NO quality meat source at all

Quick Review!!! 1. Ingredients are listed in order from _________ to ____________. 2. Which list if ingredients contains more chicken? a)Chicken, brewers rice, brown rice, poultry fat, rice flour, beet pulp, rice bran… b)Brown rice, chicken meal, chicken fat, fish meal, flax seed meal T/F: Meat and Bone Meal and Chicken by- products come from high-quality protein sources.

5. Guaranteed Analysis Pet food label must contain Minimum percentages for: ◦ Crude Protein ◦ Crude Fat Must also contain Maximum percentages for: ◦ Crude Fiber ◦ Moisture

5. Guaranteed Analysis Guaranteed Analysis written on an “as is” or “as fed” basis. Different sources of protein and fat vary in digestibility and content of valuable nutrients. Before comparing products by their weight, cost, content of protein, fat, and fiber, make sure they have the same content of moisture.

6. Feeding Directions Feeding directions instruct the consumer on how much product should be offered to the animal. They should say "feed ___ cups per ___ pounds of body weight daily. ◦ VERY basic guidelines

Quick Review!!! 1. Pet food labels must contain Maximum percentages for what? 2. Pet food labels must contain Minimum percentages for what? 3. When comparing products, it is important to make sure they have the same ___________ content. 4. T/F: Feeding directions are only guidelines.

Interesting Facts… Many pet foods are labeled as "premium,“ or “Gourmet” ◦ Not required to contain any different or higher quality ingredients, nor are they held up to any higher nutritional standards. The term "natural" is also often used. ◦ No official definition either. ◦ Not the same as "organic." ◦ Means lack of artificial flavors, artificial colors, or artificial preservatives in the product.