What is an AAFCO statement?
Posted by Kevin Andrew at 4/22/2008 7:47 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
The "AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose" — also called a "nutrition claim" or "complete and balanced statement" — identifies which life stage and/or lifestyle the product has been approved for. Under AAFCO regulations, this statement must be substantiated by the manufacturer.
AAFCO recognizes three methods for substantiating the claim:
AAFCO recognizes three methods for substantiating the claim:
- Laboratory analysis
- Finished product is compared to minimum nutritional values established by AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for dogs or cats.
- Label states: "ABC Dog (Cat) Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog (Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles for (appropriate life stage)."
- Feeding trials
- Finished product that has been laboratory tested is fed to dogs or cats according to AAFCO protocols.
- Label states: "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that ABC Dog (Cat) Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for (appropriate life stage)."
- Analysis comparable in nutritional adequacy
- Laboratory analysis of finished product is compared with nutritional values from a similar product fed to dogs and cats according to AAFCO protocols.
- Label states: "ABC Dog (Cat) Food provides complete and balanced nutrition for (appropriate life stage) and is comparable in nutritional adequacy to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests."
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