The Problem

Pet food companies are able to make claims about their products without any proof that these claims are true. Labels tout things like "urinary tract health", "weight loss", "supports the immune system" without any research or other documentation to back them up.

In addition, the labels provide only a "guaranteed analysis" with minimums and maximums - rather than an as-fed or average anlysis. While this may help a consumer determine whether the food meets minimal nutritional requirements, it does not assist a knowledgable consumer looking for optimal nutrition. An analysis such as the "nutrition facts" on human foods - with calories and amounts of various nutrients would be much more helpful. If consumers are capable of reading nutritional information on human foods and make intelligent choices on what to feed themselves and their children, why is it we are not given that same information to make choices on feeding our pets?

Finally, the government provides pet food companies with a "seal of approval" in the form of AAFCO certfication if they meet minimal requirements. This approval states the food is "complete and balanced nutrition" for the life of your pet. Many rely on this seal of approval, not realizing how little a food has to do to achieve it. They receive this seal of approval, and are declared "complete and balanced nutrition" if:

1) They perform a six-month feeding trial on one line of their product, with at least eight animals - of which six must complete the trial. If the six that finish don't show severe health problems or significant weight loss, the company's entire product line passes. The animals could gain a huge amount of weight, or die a year later - it still passes.



OR



2) The company can opt not to perform a feeding trial at all, and simply show it means the AAFCO minimum nutrient requirements. These requirements are not for optimal nutrition - simply minimum requirements.

The problem is NOT that there aren't enough regulations - the problem is that there isn't enough enforcement of the regulations that exist! Too many regulations, too little enforcement.