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What Does It Mean to Meet AAFCO Standards?
written by Freshpet Vet Team
Pet food has come a long way - from table scraps to scientifically formulated meals.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) was established in 1909 to create guidelines for animal feed, including pet food. By 1969, AAFCO defined "complete and balanced" nutrition, and veterinarians have trusted the term ever since.
AAFCO is composed of regulatory officials from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), state agencies, and industry professionals, including pet food manufacturers and ingredient suppliers. While AAFCO provides guidance, it does not regulate, test, or certify pet foods. Instead, individual states and the FDA enforce pet food regulations based on AAFCO’s model guidelines. These guidelines are updated annually in the ‘AAFCO Official Publication’ to reflect changes in pet nutrition and food safety.
How Freshpet Complies with AAFCO Standards
All Freshpet recipes meet AAFCO’s nutritional standards. Brands that claim to exceed AAFCO standards create somewhat of a misnomer. AAFCO provides maximums for some nutrients that if exceeded, would make the product unsafe.
We also conduct feeding trials for digestibility, palatability, and other specific research as needed. A few of our feeding trial affidavits can be seen here. Additionally, our internal standards we set for our products include:
• Rigorous ingredient testing for nutrients, contaminants, and pathogens
• Hourly microbiological analysis of finished products, including tests for listeria and salmonella
• Continuous quality control measures (20+ quality and safety checks) to ensure safety and consistency
Freshpet also considers pets’ specific needs beyond AAFCO’s minimum requirements. For example, senior dogs benefit from higher protein diets and optimal omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acid ratios to support joint health and cognitive function. That’s why Freshpet develops recipes tailored to the needs of pets at various life stages like Vital Healthy Aging.
What Does AAFCO Regulate?
AAFCO itself has no regulatory authority. Instead, it publishes guidelines regarding:
• Labeling requirements, including ingredient lists and nutritional claims
• Approved ingredients and their definitions
• Nutritional adequacy standards for different life stages
• Feeding trial protocols and testing parameters
Even though AAFCO does not require it, pet food manufacturing facilities are required to register with FDA annually. State authorities handle these inspections to ensure compliance with food safety and labeling regulations.
What Does "Complete and Balanced" Mean?
Any pet food marketed as “complete and balanced” must meet AAFCO’s nutritional standards, either by formulation or through feeding trials and contain all necessary nutrients (complete) in the right proportions (balanced) for a pet’s species and life stage. The primary life stages are:
• Growth and Reproduction (puppies, kittens, and gestation and lactating pets)
• Adult Maintenance (adult pets)
The nutritional adequacy statement on a pet food label informs pet owners whether a food meets AAFCO nutrient profiles through laboratory analysis or feeding trials. The statement ensures pet owners that the product provides sufficient nutrition when fed as the sole diet.
AAFCO and Feeding Trials
AAFCO does not conduct or require feeding trials before pet food can be sold, but it establishes parameters for them. A maintenance trial for adult dogs, for example, must include at least eight dogs for 26 weeks. The trial must assess weight maintenance and general health, with specific blood tests conducted to evaluate nutritional sufficiency. Manufacturers often conduct their own trials or use third-party facilities in accordance with these standards.
Feeding trials help determine if a food meets minimum nutrient requirements and labels may state:
• "[Product] is formulated to meet the AAFCO [Dog/Cat] Food Nutrient Profiles for [Life Stage]."
• "Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that [Product] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [Life Stage]."
• "[Product] provides complete and balanced nutrition for [Life Stage] and is comparable to a product which has been substantiated using AAFCO feeding tests."
AAFCO does not require manufacturers to undergo feeding trials and depend solely on laboratory analysis to confirm nutritional adequacy. At Freshpet we do both, often complementing lab analysis with feeding trials to measure palatability and digestibility.
Educating Clients on Pet Food Labels
Discussing diet choices with clients helps patients receive optimal nutrition for their specific health needs. One of the top 5 questions vets ask about Freshpet’s nutrition is whether the brand follows AAFCO standards. And yes, we do. But following AAFCO protocols and ensuring our products are complete and balanced is just the first step in making a safe, nutritious, and consistent meal you can be confident in recommending. Veterinary professionals should encourage pet owners to look beyond the AAFCO statement when selecting pet food considering:
• Ingredient quality and sourcing
• Digestibility
• Manufacturer’s history and quality control
Clients can consult the AAFCO website and WSAVA guidelines for additional insights into evaluating pet foods and the companies that make them.
