U.S. pet food makers’ top priority is to develop safe, nutritious, high-quality pet food for cats and dogs. They are also committed to providing variety to pet owners by uniquely formulating different pet food options to best meet the needs of all pets. However, with so many pet food options available, how do pet owners decide on what is best to feed their cat or dog? To help, pet food makers strive to communicate clearly to pet owners what is in their pet’s food.
The Pet Food Label Modernization initiative creates new model regulations for pet food labels and packages, aligning them closely with labels found on human food. The modern design of pet food packaging will provide greater consistency and understanding to pet owners when they shop for food, treats, or supplements for their dog or cat. The Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) published these model regulations in the 2024 Official Publication (OP).
What are the changes to be expected from the Pet Food Label Modernization initiative?
- A prominently displayed “intended use” statement is required on the front of the package where consumers can easily locate it. This statement will help pet owners quickly identify the species, life stage, and size and weight of pet for which the food is intended.
- A pet nutrition facts box is included to resemble human food nutrition labels, with nutrient quantities listed using common household measurements, like a cup, weight in grams, or per can or pouch.
- Total carbohydrates and dietary fiber replace the previous crude fiber measurement.
- The Nutritional Adequacy Statement appears at the bottom of the Pet Nutrition Facts box, allowing consumers to know that the pet food is complete and balanced quickly.
If handling or storage instructions are used on the label, pet food makers can use common and familiar graphics to easily communicate this. It will take some time for all states to adopt these changes. AAFCO recommends a discretionary period of six years after publishing them in the 2024 OP. PFI and its members continue to work with AAFCO and state departments of agriculture to bring about these changes, educate pet owners, and encourage all states to adopt the model regulations.
These changes will help enable pet food labels to convey the best possible information about pet food products to regulators, veterinarians, and most importantly, pet owners.
PFLM Webinars
PFI has committed to informing and educating pet food makers about the label requirements changes laid out in the AAFCO model regulations published this past January. In the summer of 2024, PFI offered a series of five webinars conducted by pet food makers for pet food makers. The webinars enabled pet food producers to listen, learn, and collaborate on the new label guidelines.
If you missed the webinars, recordings are available below on the following topics:
- The Introduction
- Intended Use Statement
- Nutrition Facts Box
- Fiber and Calorie Calculation
- Ingredient Statements/Handling and Storage
