How to Understand a Pet Food Label (2024)

You have likely become well-versed in understanding your food packaging labels. But what about the information provided on pet food labels? You care about what you feed your pet; after all, they depend on you to feed them a nutritious diet. However, the information on pet food labels is vastly different from the information on people’s food labels. Fortunately, our WesVet Animal Hospital team believes that proper pet nutrition is one of the best ways to ensure your pet has a long and healthy life. Read our guide on how to understand your pet’s food label to ensure you provide them with the most nutritious food for their unique needs.

Why you need to understand pet food label information

Being able to understand the information on your pet’s food label is beneficial because you can make informed decisions about what you’re feeding your pet. Because the pet food industry is highly regulated, you can rest assured that commercially available pet food has passed rigorous safety and regulatory compliance standards. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and each state regulate the animal feed industry. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guides state and national feed regulators in pet food labeling, ingredient definitions, and laboratory standards. A pet food label with the AAFCO symbol has met rigorous standards for pet food quality and nutritional content.

Pet food label requirements

Pet food labels must follow a mandatory format and contain specific information. The requirements for pet food labels are:

• Product name — The product name clues you in about what is included in the food since the AAFCO has specific name rules, known as the 95% rule, the 25% rule, the “with” rule, and the “flavor” rule. If the pet food name has a specific ingredient, such as salmon, chicken, or beef, the food must contain at least 95% of that ingredient. If the food name includes the terms dinner, platter, or entree, the pet food must contain at least 25% of the ingredient named. If the pet food label uses “with,” for example, “Dog Dinner with Beef,” the beef needs only to be 3% of the total ingredients. The word “flavor” means a product must have sufficient ingredients to be detected. As you can see, a name means a lot!
• Guaranteed analysis — The guaranteed analysis presents the minimum and maximum amounts for protein, fat, fiber, and moisture but does not give the actual nutrient amount. Guaranteed analysis is calculated using a specific process. However, this information may not provide pet owners with the food’s true nutritional content. The four required measurements on the label are:
  • Minimum crude protein percentage
  • Minimum crude fat percentage
  • Maximum crude fiber percentage
  • Maximum moisture percentage
• Ingredients list — Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight, and each ingredient must be listed separately by its “common and usual name.” Therefore, the first ingredient listed on the food label is the one that accounts for the most weight. Terms describing collective ingredients, such as “animal protein products,” are prohibited.
• Nutritional adequacy statement — The nutritional adequacy statement must follow the standardized format, which makes comparing various products easier. According to the AAFCO, nutritional adequacy statements provide the best way to match a pet’s dietary needs to a product. These statements must be verified and tested before they can be placed on packaging and often identify the pet life stage the product is intended to support. The AAFCO recognizes gestation/lactation, growth, maintenance, and all life stages. Foods can be formulated and tested in food trials, and if “complete” is included in the nutritional adequacy statement, the product contains all the nutrients required for that life stage. “Balanced” means that the nutrients are present in the correct ratios to meet a specific life stage’s nutritional needs.
• Feeding directions — Pet food label feeding directions are guidelines, not requirements, and should be discussed with our veterinarian. Breed, lifestyle, activity level, and genetics can all influence the amount you should feed your pet, so our team tailors feeding recommendations to your pet’s unique nutritional needs. The feeding directions are usually listed by a food’s weight per pound or a food’s measure per cup.

Pet food label caveats

Descriptive terms, such as “lite,” “low-calorie,” and “low-fat,” are all regulated for use on pet food labels. To be labeled as such, a food must have a significant calorie or fat reduction compared with standard pet food. The AAFCO requires that labels making these claims show the percentage reduction in calories or fats, and name a product for comparison. Organic pet food must meet the ingredient, production, and handling requirements that human organic foods follow.

Be mindful of the information we have provided here when trying to decipher your pet’s food label. Remember, pet food labels contain valuable information. If you have questions or concerns about what to feed your pet, contact our WesVet Animal Hospital team for guidance.

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