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for dog and cat foods. These are minimum testing protocols 2006). Before that, the most current NRC recommendations
VetBooks.ir used by manufacturers for substantiating the nutritional ade- for dogs and cats were published in 1985 and 1986, respective-
ly (1985, 1986). Before the development and acceptance of
quacy of pet foods via feeding trials and determining metabo-
AAFCO’s Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, the NRC pub-
lizable energy of dog and cat foods.
lications on nutrient requirements for normal dogs and cats
Food and Drug Administration were the recognized authority for substantiation of label claims
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, the FDA on commercial pet foods. The AAFCO Dog and Cat Food
has broad responsibilities, including authority over pet foods. Nutrient Profiles have replaced the NRC recommendations as
Today, the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), in FDA, the standard to be used by pet food manufacturers in the
regulates pet foods in cooperation with the individual states. United States for formulating foods for normal dogs and cats.
FDA is responsible for: 1) establishing certain animal food Currently, pet food labels in the United States that make ref-
labeling regulations, 2) specifying certain permitted ingredients erence to NRC nutritional recommendations are considered to
such as drugs and additives, 3) enforcing regulations about be misbranded. The NRC recommendations are still used by
chemical and microbiologic contamination and 4) describing some pet food manufacturers in countries other than the
acceptable manufacturing procedures. Feed control officials United States and reference to NRC is still found on some pet
within each state inspect facilities and enforce these regulations. food labels. With the most recent NRC edition, it is anticipat-
Health claims on pet food labels or literature accompanying the ed that AAFCO will reconvene its expert panel to review and
product are subject to regulation by CVM. A health claim is update the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles in
defined as the assertion or implication that consumption of a light of the new NRC recommendations. AAFCO is not
food will treat, prevent or otherwise affect a disease or condi- expected to reinstate the NRC recommendations as the author-
tion (Dzanis, 1994). ity cited on pet food labels.

United States Department of Agriculture Pet Food Institute
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is The PFI was organized in 1958 as the national trade association
responsible for ensuring that pet foods are labeled so they are of dog and cat food manufacturers in the United States. Active
not mistaken for human foods. The USDA inspects animal members of PFI produce 95% of the total dog and cat food ton-
ingredients used in pet foods to ensure proper handling and to nage in the United States (PFI, 1994). Affiliate members of PFI
guarantee that such ingredients are not used in human foods. include the leading suppliers of equipment, ingredients, packag-
The USDA also inspects and regulates animal research facili- ing and services to the United States pet food industry.
ties. All animal research facilities owned and operated in the PFI works closely with veterinarians, humane groups and
United States by pet food companies must fulfill USDA local animal control officers to sponsor public affairs and owner
requirements for: 1) record keeping, 2) physical structure, hous- education programs that encourage responsible dog and cat
ing and care of animals, 3) food and water quality and 4) sani- ownership. It also represents the industry before legislative and
tation. Research facilities are subject to unannounced inspec- regulatory bodies at the federal and state levels. In the past 20
tions by USDA officials at least annually. years, PFI has sponsored research on amino acid requirements
of dogs and cats, as well as research on the benefits of pet own-
National Research Council ership and the beneficial role of pets in society.
The NRC is a private, nonprofit organization that evaluates
and compiles research conducted by others. The NRC func- Individual States
tions as the working arm of the National Academy of Sciences, Each individual state is responsible for adopting and enforcing
the National Academy of Engineers and the Institute of pet food regulations. Many, but not all, states have adopted pet
Medicine (Phillips, 1992). The National Academy of Sciences food regulations that follow the model bill and model regula-
was created in 1863 to advise the United States federal govern- tions established by AAFCO. The State Department of
ment about scientific and technological matters (Phillips, Agriculture, Regulatory Protection Division or State Chemist
1992). The NRC was created in 1916 in response to the administers pet food regulation and enforcement in most states.
increased need for scientific and technical services during
World War I (Phillips, 1992). The NRC is not part of the Label Design
United States government, is not an enforcement agency and is A pet food label is divided into two main parts: 1) the principal
not a basic research organization with laboratories of its own. display panel and 2) the information panel (Figure 9-1). The
The NRC includes a Board on Agriculture and Natural principal display panel is defined by FDA as “the part of a label
Resources. One of the major activities of the Board has been that is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown or exam-
the development of nutrient requirement recommendations for ined under customary conditions of display for retail sale.”
domestic animals. Numerous ad hoc committees have assisted The principal display panel is the primary means of attracting
in developing the series, Nutrient Requirements of Domestic the consumer’s attention to a product and should immediate-
Animals. As part of that series, a new edition of Nutrient ly communicate the product identity. The information panel
Requirements of Dogs and Cats was published in 2006 (NRC, is defined as “that part of the label immediately contiguous