Offspring are examined within 72 hours of birth and at the end of the test. These must be printed verbatim as one of the following: The guidelines for an AAFCO feeding trial vary depending on the diet type being evaluated. Pet food marketing can get confusing. Example of a AAFCO statement from a food that has just been formulated to meet AAFCO. The composition of the food meets or exceeds the AAFCO … Adults consume the test food for 26 weeks. Must be given for each life stage if diet is formulated for more than one. Puppies are fed the same dog food (exclusively) for 10 weeks. For feeding trials, the pet food is given to dogs or cats following the protocols set by the AAFCO. Therefore, these specialists are often a reliable resource for determining which diets are causing disease problems. Per FDA Compliance Policies and AAFCO established model bills, feed is allowed to contain euthanized animals or pesticide contaminated ingredients – food … You need to consider the manufacturer (reputation, experience, investment in AAFCO trials and research, etc. 244 Thompson Road One was created specifically for kitten nutrition, and the other applies to adult cat … AAFCO – Association of American Feed Control Officials – is a non-government association made up of government employees (state and a few federal). The FDA and AAFCO (Association of American Feed Officials) are often on the side of the pet food experts but when cat lovers/consumers make their feelings clear enough, pet food companies make changes. Advancements in technology are allowing scientists to use microchips instead of animals to test drugs, questioning the necessity of anyanimal testing for any purpose. 3. Feeding Trials. During the trial, the only food available to the test animals is the food … Availability of any product research (published in peer reviewed journals or elsewhere). Complete veterinary examinations are mandated at initiation and completion of the test. This document lists eight questions you can ask pet food manufacturers to help evaluate their suitability: Dr. Rebecca Remillard (a board certified nutritionist and consultant for the Veterinary Information Network, the parent of Veterinary Partner) has suggested that companies manufacturing veterinary therapeutic diets generally use the same standards of quality in their over-the-counter diets. There are two different profiles for cat food nutrition. 1. However, although AAFCO trials are imperfect, they do identify most serious acute and semi-acute nutritional deficiencies or excesses, and some minor ones. It is ideal for a manufacturer to have a qualified nutritionist as a full-time employee rather than just as a consultant. On the other hand, the FDA enforces food safety through the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act, which demands that pet foods, like human foods, be “pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.” Therefore, pet food manufacturers are legally responsible for providing nutritionally adequate, safe and wholesome products that conform to local, state, and federal law. By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services. Pet food companies use a laboratory analysis and will sometimes conduct feeding trials to prove that their food is complete and balanced for a certain life stage. However, the more you know about what pet food labels indicate – and don’t – the better off your pet will be. full or typical analysis) of their diets rather than just a guaranteed analysis, and provide updated information with regular batch testing. Not detailed, target animal weights can be given as wide ranges, and no requirement for specific equation to use to determine energy needs of target animals.