To the uneducated consumer, pet food labels with names like “Beef for Dogs,” “Beef Dinner for Dogs,” or “Dog Food with Beef” might all sound like pretty much the same thing. In fact, these products could have between 3% to 95% beef content, depending on the exact wording of the product name!
If you [...]
Written on November 15th, 2006
Read more articles on Pet food.
To the uneducated consumer, pet food labels with names like “Beef for Dogs,” “Beef Dinner for Dogs,” or “Dog Food with Beef” might all sound like pretty much the same thing. In fact, these products could have between 3% to 95% beef content, depending on the exact wording of the product name!
If you want to make sure you’re paying for the product you really want, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the rules that govern pet food labeling.
The “95%” Rule
According to regulations enforced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a product with a simple same like “Beef for Dogs” or “Chicken for Cats” must contain at least “95%”of the named ingredient, not counting the water added for processing and “condiments.” Counting the added water, the named ingredient still must comprise a full 70% of the product. As in human food labeling, the ingredient lists are ranked by the weight of each item in the package, from the largest amount to the smallest. So in these products, “beef” or “tuna” should be the first ingredient listed, followed often by water, and then other items like vitamins and minerals.
The 25% Rule
The “25%” or “dinner” rule applies to many pet food products. This permits manufacturers to reduce the named ingredient to only 25% of the overall product, by simply adding a descriptive word – such as “platter,” “dinner,” “entr?e,” “formula,” or “nuggets” – to the name of the product. In other words, “Tuna for Cats,” is required to contain 95% tuna. But “Tuna Dinner for Cats” might contain only 25% tuna!
The 3% or “With” Rule The next tier is for product names like “Dog Food WITH Beef,” or “Cat Food WITH Chicken.” Using the word “with” means the product might only have 3% of the named ingredient. This can create a very confusing situation for the consumer. For example, a can of “Cat Food with Tuna” could be easily confused with a can of “Tuna Cat Food.” But the latter example would contain at least 95% tuna, and the first needs only 3%. The lesson for the consumer is to read labels carefully before purchase to ensure you’re buying the product you really want.
The “Flavor” Rule Finally, under the “flavor” rule, a specific percentage is not required, but a product must contain an amount sufficient to be able to be detected. There are specific test methods, using animals trained to prefer specific flavors, which can be used to confirm this claim. In the example of “Beef Flavor Dog Food,” the word “flavor” must appear on the label in the same size, style and color as the word “beef.” The corresponding ingredient may be beef, but more often it is another substance that will give the characterizing flavor, such as beef meal or beef by-products. In conclusion, understanding these rules about pet food names will make you a more informed shopper. It might make the difference between finding a product you really want, and one that you wouldn’t accept if it was offered for free.
About the Author
Peter Genua is publisher of the Holistic Pet Companion web site, dedicated to natural, holistic care for animals and companions. Visit at holisticpetcompanion.com.
Written on November 15th, 2006
Read more articles on Pet food.