dr. dan aja luncheon talk: tips on pet nutrition and pet food labels
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Dr. Dan Aja's luncheon talk at BlogPaws 2012: Pet Nutrition, Pet Food LabelsTRANSCRIPT
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Pet Nutrition, Pet Food Labels
BlogPaws 2012Daniel S. Aja, DVM
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To help enrich and lengthen To help enrich and lengthen the special relationships the special relationships
between people and their pets.between people and their pets.
Hill’s Heritage
Continuing Development of New Nutritional Therapeutic &
Wellness Products
> 60 therapeutic pet foods
> 50 life stage and special needs pet foods
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Is Nutrition Important?
www.everypeteverytime.com
The American Animal Hospital Association recommends a nutritional assessment and specific dietary recommendation for every pet on each veterinary visit. Good nutrition enhances pets’ quality and quantity of life, and is integral to optimal animal care.
NutritionTHE 5TH VITAL ASSESSMENT
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Let’s Talk Pet Food Labels
This organization sets the nutritional
standards for animal foods sold in the
United States and Canada
Pet Food Label- Display & Information Panels
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Pet Food Label Display Panel
Net wt. 64 oz. (1814 g)
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Pet Food Label Information Panel
Can be one of two methods:
Formulation Method• Requires food formulated to meet AAFCO Dog or Cat
Nutrient Profiles• Growth and Reproduction• Adult maintenance• Less expensive, less time consuming
• Doesn’t require feeding or digestibility trials
– No guarantee of pet’s acceptability or nutrient bioavailability
Nutritional Adequacy Statement
LABEL EXAMPLE:
(AAFCO Statement)
Acme Brand Adult Chicken Formula Cat Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.
Animal Feeding Trial Method• Preferred method (Gold Standard)• Manufacturer must perform an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial
using the food as the sole source of nutrition• Gestation and Lactation*• Growth*• Adult Maintenance• All Lifestages**
• Documents how an animal performs when fed a specific food
Nutritional Adequacy Statement(AAFCO Statement)
LABEL EXAMPLE:
Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiatethat Science Diet Adult Small Bites provides completeand balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult cats.
What is Lifestage Nutrition?
The practice of feeding foods designed to meet an animal’s optimal nutritional needs
at a specific age or physiologic state
Lifestage Nutrition
• Nutritional needs change throughout the pet’s life
• Lifestage concept – Pet receives ideal balance
of nutrients during each stage of life
– Avoids nutritional excesses and deficiencies
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Information Panel
• Required information – lists only minimums and maximums– Crude protein (minimum)– Crude fat (minimum)– Crude fiber (maximum)– Moisture (maximum)
• General idea of nutrient content• No indication of quality
Guaranteed Analysis
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Canned dog food12 year-old healthy dog
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Guaranteed Analysis
Product “A” “B” “C”Crude Protein, min % 6.0 6.0 5.0Crude Fat, min % 4.0 5.0 2.2Crude Fiber, max % 6.3 2.5 2.5Moisture, max % 78 78 78
Product “A” is old shoes, oil, coal, and waterProduct “B” is Old Yeller® Dog Food for growth & maintenanceProduct “C” is a “Premium” Adult Light Food
Guaranteed analysis does not help you understand the nutritional value or quality of the product.
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Information Panel
• Listed in descending order by weight• Meat first – can appear first due to higher moisture
content than other dry ingredients• Ingredient splitting – several different forms of same
ingredient listed separately
Ingredient Statement
Lamb, Ground Rice, Rice Flour, Rice Bran, Whole Brown Rice, Lamb Meal, Potato Protein, Poultry Fat (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Rice Protein Concentrate, Natural Flavors, Pea Protein, Soybean Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols, a source of Vitamin E), Potassium Chloride, Monocalcium Phosphate, L-Lysine, Salt, Choline Chloride, Egg Product, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Kelp, Taurine, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate,(source of Vitamin C), Copper Proteinate, Biotin, Niacin Supplement, Garlic Flavor, Potassium Iodide, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (source of Vitamin B2), Thiamine Mononitrate (source of Vitamin B1), Pyridozxine Hydrochloride (source of Vitamin B6), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity), Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
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Dry Food < 20% Moisture
Semi-Moist Food 20-65% Moisture
Wet 65-78% Moisture
AAFCO Food Forms(based on moisture levels)
AAFCO Requirements for Naming Pet Foods
If pet food name says….Pet food must contain at least this % of the named ingredient
Chicken, beef, seafood, etc.(ingredient without modifiers)
95%
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Product NameNo Qualifiers
≥ 95%100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
AAFCO Requirements for Naming Pet Foods
If pet food name says….Pet food must contain at least this % of the named ingredient
Formula, recipe, dinner, entrée, platter(chicken dinner, beef entrée, seafoodand beef platter)
25%
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25% to 94%100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Product NameQualifier following Name
AAFCO Requirements for Naming Pet Foods
If pet food name says….Pet food must contain at least this % of the named ingredient
“With” (with chicken, with beef, with seafood etc.)
3%
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100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
3% to
24%
Product NameQualifier ‘With’
AAFCO Requirements for Naming Pet Foods
If pet food name says….Pet food must contain at least this % of the named ingredient
“Flavor” (chicken flavor, beef flavor)
<3% & ingredient list must disclose source of flavor
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≤3%
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Product NameQualifier ‘Flavor’
AAFCO Requirements for Naming Pet Foods
If pet food name says….Pet food must contain at least this % of the named ingredient
Chicken, beef, seafood, etc.(ingredient without modifiers)
95%
Formula, recipe, dinner, entrée, platter(chicken dinner, beef entrée, seafoodand beef platter)
25%
“With” (with chicken, with beef, with seafood etc.)
3%
“Flavor” (chicken flavor, beef flavor)
<3% & ingredient list must disclose source of flavor
Organic, Natural, Holistic, Human Grade??
Requirements for Naming Pet FoodsTERM LEGALLY
DEFINEDDEFINITION
Organic YES According to the USDA – the term “Organic” may only be applied to pet food labels that follow USDA rules. Look for the seal.
Natural YES According to AAFCO – the term “natural” requires a pet food to consist of only natural ingredients without chemical alterations.
Holistic NO There is no legal definition of this term under law devoted to pet foods. Any manufacturer can make claims of “holistic” in literature or brochures regardless of ingredients chosen.
Human Grade
NO Claims that a product contains or is made from ingredients that are “human grade,” “human quality,” “people food,” ingredients you (the purchaser) would eat” are “false and misleading.”
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“Made with Organics”
Ingredient listed onlyOrganic peas,
organic chicken, etc.
Organic - USDA
> 95% 70% to 94% 1% to 69%
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Natural AAFCO definition:
Ingredients that have never been subjected to
chemical synthesis.
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Holistic
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Human Edible/Human Grade?
WEBSITES
LITERATUREAAFCO- Claims that a product contains or is made from ingredients that are “human grade,” “human quality,” “people food,” ingredients you (the purchaser) would eat” are “false and misleading.”
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Human Edible/Human Grade
Pet Food RecallsFrom the FDA….
A recall is a voluntary action that takes place because manufacturers and distributors carry out their responsibility to protect the public health and well-being from products that present a risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective.
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To help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between
people and their pets
