Pet Food Regulation, Safety, and Toxicology
Regulatory framework
In the United States, AAFCO publishes nutrient profiles and model regulations, while the FDA enforces the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. State feed control officials enforce labeling. Key label elements: product name, guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, nutritional adequacy statement, feeding directions, and calorie content.
Nutritional adequacy statements must specify life stage (growth, maintenance, all life stages) and the method (formulation, feeding trial, or product family). "All life stages" is the most demanding claim.
Safety and toxicology
Know common toxicants: chocolate (theobromine), xylitol (hypoglycemia and hepatic failure in dogs), grapes/raisins (renal injury), onions/garlic (hemolytic anemia), vitamin D (hypercalcemia), melamine (renal disease), and aflatoxin (liver disease). Recalls can arise from nutrient excess/deficiency, contamination, or labeling errors.
Traps
- "Natural" and "holistic" are marketing terms, not regulated nutritional claims.
- By-product is not synonymous with low quality; it describes a category of ingredients.
- Grain-free does not equal better; diet-associated DCM has been linked to some grain-free diets.
- Guaranteed analysis is on an as-fed basis; compare on a dry matter basis.
Worked example
A canned food with 78% moisture and 10% protein on an as-fed basis: dry matter = 22%. Protein on a dry matter basis = 10 / 0.22 = 45%.