Page 189 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

Chapter
9

VetBooks.ir

Pet Foods

Labels

Philip Roudebush
David A. Dzanis
Jacques Debraekeleer
Hilary Watson

“Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are.”
Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, 1825

the production, marketing and sales of commercial pet foods in
different countries. Each agency or organization has different
INTRODUCTION
responsibilities with varying degrees of authority (Table 9-1).
The pet food label is an important means by which specific Some of these agencies and organizations regulate the informa-
product information is communicated between a manufacturer tion found on pet food labels whereas others influence the reg-
or distributor and consumers, veterinarians and regulatory offi- ulatory process.
cials. Commercial pet foods differ from human food products Pet foods are regulated at their point of sale. As an example,
in that the final consumer, the animal, is not the purchaser. pet food manufactured in the United States for sale outside the
Thus, there are two different “customers” with regards to safe- United States must meet the labeling requirements established
ty, nutritional balance and palatability. Pet food label informa- by the country in which the food is sold. Conversely, pet foods
tion is not directed to the final consumer, but to the owner or manufactured outside the United States must conform to Food
veterinarian who decides what the animal will be fed. and Drug Administration (FDA) and state pet food labeling
Implementation of the Nutrition Labeling and Education requirements when sold in the United States.
Act of 1990 and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education
Act of 1994 in the United States has led to increased consumer
awareness of the contents and effects of various human foods. PET FOOD LABELS IN THE
Consumer interest in human food label information has UNITED STATES
increased awareness of information available on pet food labels.
The regulations governing pet food labeling are similar to Regulation in the United States
human food labeling rules in many respects, but deviate signifi- Association of American Feed Control Officials
cantly in some important ways. Thus, veterinarians and pet Early regulators recognized the need for uniform and consis-
owners need to understand the rules specific to pet food label- tent regulation of animal feeds by forming the Association of
ing to obtain and best interpret information about a pet food. American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in 1909. AAFCO
is a private organization, not a regulatory body per se. However,
The Label as a Legal Document all AAFCO members must be state or federal government offi-
The pet food label is more than an attractive package cover cials. Members include animal feed control officials from indi-
designed to sell the product; the pet food label is also a legal vidual U.S. states and territories, federal agencies such as FDA
document. A number of agencies and organizations regulate and government representatives from Canada and Costa Rica.