Understanding Dog Food Labels

What you should know and understand food labels Dog Information

The pet food recall has been recently an alarm clock for dog owners. For this reason, we all have to learn more about how to interpret dog food labels. This paper presents some the basic rules on labeling of commercial dog food.

First, it is important to note that the AAFCO, American Association feed control officials is not a government agency. Rather it is an advisory council of representatives. The board members are representatives of state and federal well as those directly involved in the industry of pet food.

AAFCO provides useful information about diet and definitions food. However, AAFCO has no police in the animal feed industry.

The Board of Representatives AAFCO designed to test procedures must be paid before an application can be made private labels. food manufacturers may choose to conduct their own tests food or rely on the analysis food lab to justify their requests. food companies did not meet AAFCO standards for their products. However, if you sign up, indicate on the label.

A key to understanding the content dog food is crucial to understanding the basic rules on labeling.

* The product name is the first part label we noticed by consumers, and may be a key factor in determining whether or not to buy the product. If the name of the food label contains the word "dinner" "Formula" or "nuggets" (or similar words), the ingredient should be specified no less than 25% of the total weight. (Example: a label written "lamb and rice formula" must be at least 25% of these two ingredients, combined). It also means that since the ingredients and appointed need only make up 1 / 4 of total product, they can not even be the main ingredients!

* Here is another amazing labeling AFFCO rule. If the name of a food contains the phrase "(the name of a specific ingredient)", specifies that the ingredient must not be less than 3% of total product. (Example: a label that says, "with beef," should consist of beef at least 3%).

* If the name contains the word "Flavor" or "aroma", no specific percentage is required by all AFFCO. The product must contain a specified quantity of ingredients enough "to be detected." This amount may be less than 1%.

* The word "bird" can mean a wider range of birds which are traditionally raised on a farm for human consumption.

* The use of the word "animal" is not limited to those traditionally raised on a farm for human consumption, but may mean that other mammals also.

AFFCO has a list of food ingredients definitions. When manufacturers Food Dogs use these terms in the form of packets, each ingredient must meet the parameters set in the corresponding definition AFFCO. This list of AFFCO definitions is also included in our news archive World Bichon.

Please see the definitions of feed ingredients gives her boyfriend Bichon! They count on us for their care and welfare.

About the Author

Sandy Schneider, author, is a devoted dog mom. Agility, grooming, obedience, and just plain having fun with her dogs are her passion. She operates
http://www.bichonworld.com
and invites you to visit the site for great information and articles at
http://www.bichonworld.com/articles

The First 2 best Ingredients You Should See On Dog Food Lab