Both food allergies and food sensitivities are entirely specific to the individual animal, and for this reason it's very important to be aware of commercial
pet foods labeled «allergen - free», «hypoallergenic» or «non-allergic».
There is no official definition for organic pet food yet, although you may see
some pet foods labeled this way.
Instead of looking for
pet foods labeled as «premium», look at the ingredients in the food and whether it is nutritionally balanced.
Reading the caloric content of commercial foods can be intimidating due to the verbiage used on
pet food labels.
Our sweet new family addition needed a place to put her food, so I whipped up some cute
pet food labels to go on basic, big box jars.
We needed
pet food labels.
People are now looking closer at
their pet food label than at their own food label.
It's very common to find that pet owners do not know how to read
pet food labels correctly, they often make their purchase decisions based on how the pet food packaging looks like, without looking at the contents.
At the very least, staffers should learn how to read
pet food labels, understand ingredients and make sense of the guaranteed analysis.
Similarly,
pet food labeled as «low fat» or «lean» can not exceed a certain percent of crude fat.
There will be a topic and a moderator just to engage people in conversation on different topics like focusing on protein, updating
pet food labels and the next generation of pet food professionals.
For example, Miller explains that when
a pet food label lists chicken by - products as the protein, that means a chicken carcass that has had all of the meat used for human consumption removed (breast meat, wings, thighs, legs), but still contains the cleaned organ meat and bones with leftover meat on them.
Do
pet food labels confuse you?
When defined on
a pet food label, chicken meal and chicken are exactly the same thing!
Read
pet food labels carefully for ingredients that may not be all - natural.
Most
pet food labels mention the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, nutritional adequacy statement.
As with food for humans,
pet food labels are regulated as to what information they must provide.
AAFCO standards go above and beyond those of the FDA, and require eight items on
a pet food label.
According to the AAFCO,
all pet food labels need guaranteed analysis on the label to explain nutrient content.
On a federal level,
pet food labels are primarily regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which enforces federal laws pertaining to
pet food labels.
-- The guaranteed analysis on
a pet food label provides you with the minimum or maximum levels of four key nutrients: crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture.
There are a few basics required to be on
pet food labels.
As they are provided to pet food companies by rendering plants, the true ingredients of a meal are not disclosed on
the pet food label.
Understanding how to read
pet food labels is the first step to feeding your dog exactly what you intend to give them — you can't trust the front of the package because the real truth lies on the flip side.
The three most important pieces of information on
a pet food label are as follows:
Reading
a pet food label can be quite the daunting task, but with a small amount of education, you can arm yourself with the information to make an informed decision.
«I'm also happy to see that concerned pet parents are getting better and better at reading
pet food labels,» Johnson said.
We've been saying this for more than 15 years now, but a study finally proves that the feeding directions on
pet food labels are often over-stated and can cause weight gain.
Just make sure that the carbohydrates on
the pet food label do not appear before the primary protein and avoid any products that have a high number of carbohydrates.
You may also see the word «flavor» used in
pet food labels — there is no specific percentage required by AAFCO to use this word but the amount must not be sufficient to be detected.
Be wary of
pet food labels that tell you never to add any home made or fresh ingredients to you pet's food.
Not all proteins in puppy food are created equally, so knowing how to interpret
a pet food label is important.
If anything, reading
a pet food label is even more confusing than trying to decipher what's in the food you buy for your family.
The hard - to - pronounce words and acronyms on
pet food labels are usually preservatives and vitamins.
«Giblet» is another name for organ meats, which are commonly listed on
pet food labels as «by - products.»
AAFCO sets voluntary standards for
pet food labeling.
Next, train your associates on how to read
a pet food label so that they can take the customer through it in a clear and simple way, explaining what each ingredient represents.
They set voluntary standards for
pet food labeling at the local, state, and federal level.
In this course you learn how to read
pet food labels, including the importance of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals and protective nutrients.
Is it time to take a new look at
pet food labels?
When shopping for high - protein, gluten - free cat food you need to pay attention to two key parts of
the pet food label — the guaranteed analysis and the ingredients list.
By understanding what
pet food labels communicate and by working with your veterinarian or dog nutritionist to decide how best to feed your dog, you can compare options effectively and grade them to select the most appropriate products.
Royal Canin dog food received three out of five stars from the DogFoodAdvisor website, a site written and developed by Dr. Mike Sagman, an authority on reading and evaluating
pet food labels.
As a result,
pet food labels aren't always consumer - friendly.
Be sure to take your time reading
pet foods labels to ensure that your dog or cat receives enough meat, protein, animal fat, moisture, and vegetables.
Look for it on
pet food labels,» advises Hohenhaus.
What this means is that the AAFCO doesn't regulate pet food, but it does provide the standards for what goes on
pet food labels.
This second best puppy food formula is made without any byproducts or meat meals, and the company claims this as «holistic» food, although this marketing term has no meaning under FDA and AAFCO
pet food labeling requirements.
This long - time best - seller clearly explains all you need to know about feeding your cat: * What you can (and can't) learn from
a pet food label * The differences among types of food (dry, canned, raw, etc.) * How your cat should eat for optimal health * How to shop for your feline companion * How to get your cat to switch to a better diet * How to make nutritious food for your cat at home * Dr. Jean's «approved brands» of canned, dry, and frozen / freeze - dried / raw diets; treats, toppers, and meal supplements * Glossary * Resources, including helpful websites and specific (brand) supplement recommendations * Fully referenced with the latest scientific discoveries.
The term «veterinarian approved» is not allowed on
pet food labels.