Understanding Pet food Labels

May 23, 2016

What is a pet food label?

This is a legitimate piece of document that acts as a primary means of communication between pet food manufactures and the pet owners.

In American countries, these labels are regulated and documented by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AA, FCO). Other countries also have their own types of Pet Food Labels and labeling systems which have been adopted from the (AA, FCO)

Pet Food Labels are like road signs; they can prove to be very disastrous if not adhered to as prescribed therefore this article is going to give you various tips on deciphering pet food labels.

Components of a pet food label

· Product name

· Net Quantity Statements

· Manufacturer’s Name and Address

· Ingredient List.

· Nutritional Adequacy Statement

· Feeding Directions.

· Calorie Statement

· Other Label claims.

Product Name

The Product name identifies the product and sometimes it plays an integral role in the consumer’s decision either buying or not buying a pet food.

Many products are given names that incorporate the name of an ingredient that is present in it while other products are also named according to what type of meal it is. Such names are just simple ones like Beef for Dogs, Tuna Cat Food, Chicken Formula Cat Food or Fish Dinner Cat Food.

The names can also be based on flavors that have been used in making the products.

Such names can be Chicken Flavored Cat Food, meaning that the food has been flavored with chicken.

Being able to read the product name is important because it will help you be able to buy the required feed for your pet.

Net Quantity Statement

This sentiment tells you how much of the product is contained in the container. It shows the quantity of the product is packed in the container.

Quantity is always indicated in terms of Ounces, Pounds or Kilograms.

Understanding the Net Quality Statements will enable you make good judgments before purchase is made as you will be able to compare prices of different brands of products but of the same quantity.

Manufacturers name and address

The address point identifies the party is responsible for the production and safety of the product. It provides the pet owners with a means to link up with the manufacture ask questions and also seek clarification.

Some companies have even gone to an extent of introducing toll free numbers and addresses for easy communication that a pet owner can use to call the manufacture.

Ingredient List

Listing of all ingredients helps the pet owner select the best feed for the pets, food with the relevant ingredients.

This part also indicates what types of additives have been used or added to the pet food. The commonly used additive in pet food is ethoxyquin. This list helps you be able to select food with acceptable additives for your pet.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude protein and crude fats need to be guaranteed. Other components that are usually guaranteed are fiber and moisture.

For instance fat feeds normally bare guarantee for magnesium and taurine.

There are also guarantees for canned foods and other dry pet foods and buyer must understand it well for the better of his/he pets and values for the money used.

Nutritional Adequacy Statement

This statement declares how fit the pet food is for feeding. It stipulates whether your feed is fit for a

Young pet, growing pet or also according to the size and breed of the pet.

Feeding Directions

This part provides the instruction of administering the meal. These guidelines say when the food should be served to the pet and in what quantities.

It ensures the pets are not under or over fed.

Calorie Statement

This shows how much energy the food contains. It is usually indicated using Kilocalories per Kilogram. Some familiar house hold names have however been used in describing the calories, these include names like per cup or per can

By understanding this Calorie statement, one can be able to control how much fat or carbohydrates their pet consumes.

Other label claims.

Such claims include labels like Premium, super premium natural, organic among others. Thorough scrutiny should be done when purchasing products with such claims as some companies use them as a marketing strategy and not as a factual thing.

http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/ucm047113.htm

http://www.hillspet.com/en/us/pet-care/nutrition-feeding/reading-a-pet-food-label