What does AAFCO mean, and does it really matter?

The definition as shown on the AFFCO website shows:

The term AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. A basic goal of AAFCO is to provide a mechanism for developing and implementing uniform and equitable laws, regulations, standards and enforcement policies for regulating the manufacture, distribution and sale of animal feeds; resulting in safe, effective, and useful feeds. The Association thereby promotes new ideas and innovative procedures and urges their adoption by member agencies, for uniformity.

Purpose and Function of AAFCO:

The purpose of the corporation shall be to establish and maintain an Association through which officials of any state, dominion, federal or other governmental agency and employees thereof charged with a responsibility in enforcing the laws regulating the production, labeling, distribution, or sale of animal feeds or livestock remedies may unite to explore the problems encountered in administering such laws, to develop just and equitable standards, definitions and policies to be followed in enforcing such laws, to promote uniformity in such laws, regulations and enforcement policies, and to cooperate with members of the industry producing such products in order to promote the effectiveness and usefulness of such products.

What a mouthful, eh? Let’s dumb it down a bit. On another website, ‘Pet Connection‘ – they define AAFCO as:

…a private group that defines food and feed ingredients, and sets standards for nutritional levels for pet foods and animal feeds, as well as for feeding tests conducted under AAFCO guidelines.

AAFCO is not a regulatory body, but an association of state and federal regulatory agents. They also consult with advisers from the pet food and livestock feed industries, and with academics and researchers. And while they’ve unquestionably conquered the pet food marketplace, their guidelines have garnered criticism from a number of sources.

That’s a bit easier to understand. So, if you see ‘AAFCO Approved’ on your bag of Cat Food – you will know that it meets regulatory guidelines for Pet Health… but does it really matter? There has been quite a bit of controversy that I have recently come across about whether or not it means anything to have ‘AAFCO Approved’ on your pet food bag.

In the words of Quinton Rogers, DVM, PhD, one of the AAFCO panel experts, “although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities. I don’t know of any studies showing their adequacies and inadequacies.” Rogers also states that some of the foods which pass AAFCO feeding trials are actually inadequate for long term nutrition, but there is no way of knowing which foods these are under present regulations (Smith, 1993).

A “maintenance” claim requires that 6 out of 8 healthy dogs or cats are kept alive for 26 weeks on the diet, without losing more than 10 percent of their body weight or having certain blood levels fall below specified levels, and passing an examination by a veterinarian at the trial’s beginning and conclusion.

The controversy is that the AAFCO’s passing guidelines don’t give the overall stamp of “perfect for your pet’s health” . This does not cover the lifetime over all foundation of health for the animal. It just keeps them alive and able to pass a Veterinary Clinic physical. Some may say “better than nothing”, and I agree – it’s in the very least ‘balanced nutrition’, but definitely not a defining approval of THE BEST for your Cat/Dog.

While veterinary nutritionists acknowledge that some foods formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines would flunk a feeding trial, it’s a good start. But doesn’t cover everything in whole.

I personally feel a little disturbed that they run ‘trials’ on live animals. I feel it’s a bit unfair for those who experience a “flunked” test. Wouldn’t the Pet owning world be better off if a Whole and Organic diet was the standard and requirement for Pet Health? There are so many pet foods available at the store that are literally junk for your animals health. In my opinion, those foods would be IAMS & Friskies to name a few. Thankfully quite a few “cheap” brands have come out with Organic and whole food. In which case, I would say their ‘Organic’ brands are good. But the other is still junk My equivalent to their food would be like us trying to live on cake our whole life. Sure it has ‘some’ good ingredients, but the overall health benefit is not good at all.

To name a few ingredients to determine ‘junk’ from good food, is to know what a by-product is (from Wiki):

Meat by-products are ground and cleaned slaughtered meat carcass parts such as necks, feet, undeveloped eggs, bones, heads, and intestines (and a small amount of feathers in the case of chicken meat). The terms meat by-products or animal by-products are often used in reference to the ingredients included in commercial pet foods.

Are you in the mood for a big piece of carcass? GROSS! I grew up with Cats & Dogs my whole life. We had neighbors who raised chickens and ever so often our Cats would catch one (tee hee) and they ate ALL the good meat and never the guts and certainly not the feet! Same with random birds and mice. They knew what was good for them, so why are we feeding them feet, necks, undeveloped eggs and intestines? GROSS!!! blah!

For Cats – who are by nature ‘carnivores’ , the first ingredients of ANY food should be a ‘whole meat’. Not corn or wheat (or guts). They don’t need carbohydrates, so why should the first few ingredients be carbs?  The first ingredient in the list determines what the largest portion will be in the food. Thus, it should be meat. Same goes for dog food.

So AAFCO may be the determining factor of what food will keep your dog/cat alive – but does it really tell you what the BEST food for your Cat and Dog will be? No. They simply brand the food that will help keep your pet alive… not necessary healthy.

I will say that it is better than a non-approved AAFCO cat/dog food. My 2 cents would be to pick Organic, and actually provide whole and top-notch nutrition for your pet. This would give them lifelong health. ♥

View lists of Cat & Dog Food that will actually keep your pet HEALTHY:

• dog food holistic
• cat food holistic
  

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