Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 17, September 10, 2024
5.1. The
"Guaranteed Analysis" shall be listed on an "as is" basis and in the following
order and format unless otherwise specified in these Sections:
5.1.1. A pet food or specialty pet food label
shall list the following required guarantees:
5.1.1.1. Minimum percentage of crude
protein;
5.1.1.2. Minimum
percentage of crude fat;
5.1.1.3.
Maximum percentage of crude fat, if required by Part 11;
5.1.1.4. Maximum percentage of crude
fiber;
5.1.1.5. Maximum percentage
of moisture; and
5.1.1.6.
Additional guarantees shall follow moisture.
5.1.2. When ash is listed in the guaranteed
analysis on a pet food or specialty pet food label, it shall be guaranteed as a
maximum percentage and shall immediately follow moisture.
5.1.3. A dog or cat food label shall list
other required or voluntary guarantees in the same order and units of the
nutrients in the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles, or the AAFCO Cat Food
Nutrient Profiles, as applicable, and may be listed as minimum, maximum, or
both, unless otherwise specified. Guarantees for substances not listed in the
AAFCO Dog (or Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles, or not otherwise provided for in
these regulations, shall immediately follow the listing of the recognized
nutrients and shall be accompanied by an asterisk referring to the disclaimer
"not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog (or Cat) Food
Nutrient Profiles." The disclaimer shall appear immediately after the last such
guarantee in the same size type as the guarantees.
5.1.4. A specialty pet food label shall list
other required or voluntary guarantees in the same order and units of the
nutrients in an AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile for the specific species and
may be listed as minimum, maximum, or both, unless otherwise specified;
however, if no species-specific AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile is available,
the order and units shall follow the same order and units of nutrients in the
AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Guarantees for substances not listed in an
AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile for the specific species of animal shall
immediately follow the listing of the recognized nutrients and shall be
accompanied by an asterisk referring to the disclaimer "not recognized as an
essential nutrient by the ____________ (Blank is to be completed by listing the
specific AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile)." The disclaimer shall appear
immediately after the last such guarantee in the same size type as the
guarantees. No such disclaimer shall be required unless an AAFCO-Recognized
Nutrient Profile is available for the specific species of specialty
pet.
5.2. The sliding
scale method of expressing a guaranteed analysis on a pet food or specialty pet
food label (for example. "Minimum crude protein 15-18%") is
prohibited.
5.3. The label of a pet
food or specialty pet food which is formulated as and represented to be a
mineral supplement shall include:
5.3.1.
Minimum guarantees for all minerals from sources declared in the ingredient
statement and established by an AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile expressed as
the element in units specified in the nutrient profile; or
5.3.2. Minimum guarantees for all minerals
from sources declared in the ingredient statement expressed as the element in
the same order and units of the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, when no
species-specific profile has been recognized by AAFCO.
5.3.3. Mineral guarantees required by Part
5.3.1 and 5.3.2. may be expressed in milligrams (mg) per unit (e.g., tablets,
capsules, granules, or liquids) consistent with those employed in the quantity
statement and directions for use; and
5.3.4. A weight equivalent (e.g., 1 fl. oz. =
28 grams) shall be listed for liquid products.
5.4. The label of a pet food or a specialty
pet food which is formulated as and represented to be a vitamin supplement
shall include:
5.4.1. Minimum guarantees for
all vitamins from sources declared in the ingredient statement and established
by an AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile expressed in units specified in the
nutrient profile; or
5.4.2. Minimum
guarantees for all vitamins from sources declared in the ingredient statement
expressed in the same order and units of AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles, when
no species-specific nutrient profile has been recognized by AAFCO.
5.4.3. Vitamin guarantees required by Part
5.4.1 and 5.4.2, may be expressed in approved units (e.g., IU, mg, g) per unit
(e.g., tablets, capsules, granules, or liquids) consistent with those employed
in the quantity statement and directions for use; and
5.4.4. A weight equivalent (e.g., 1 fl. oz. =
28 grams) for liquid products.
5.5. When the label of a pet food or
specialty pet food includes a comparison of the nutrient content of the food
with levels established by an AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile such as a table
of comparison, a percentage, or any other designation referring to an
individual nutrient or all of the nutrient levels, the following apply:
5.5.1. The product shall meet the
AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient Profile; and
5.5.2. The statement of comparison shall be
preceded by a statement that the product meets the AAFCO-Recognized Nutrient
Profile. However, the statement that the product meets the AAFCO-Recognized
Nutrient Profile is not required provided that a nutritional adequacy statement
permitted by Part 8.1.1 or 8.2.2.1 appears elsewhere on the product label;
and
5.5.3. The statement of
comparison of the nutrient content shall constitute a guarantee, but need not
be repeated in the guaranteed analysis; and
5.5.4. The statement of comparison may appear
on the label separate and apart from the guaranteed analysis.
5.6. The maximum moisture declared
on a pet food or specialty pet food label shall not exceed 78.00% or the
natural moisture content of the ingredients, whichever is higher. However, pet
food and specialty pet food such as, but not limited to, those consisting
principally of stew, gravy, sauce, broth, aspic, juice, or a milk replacer, and
which are so labeled, may contain moisture in excess of 78.00%.
5.7. Guarantees for crude protein, crude fat,
and crude fiber are not required when the pet food or specialty pet food is
intended for purposes other than to furnish these substances or they are of
minor significance relative to the primary purpose of the product, such as
mineral or vitamin supplement.
5.8.
Guarantees for microorganisms shall be stated in colony forming units per gram
(CFU/g) when directions are for using the product in grams, or in colony
forming units per pound (CFU/lb) when directions are for using the product in
pounds. A parenthetical statement shall list each species in order of
predominance.
5.9. Guarantees for
enzymes shall be stated in units of enzymatic activity per unit weight or
volume, consistent with label directions. The source organism for each type of
enzymatic activity shall be specified, such as: Protease (Bacillus subtilis)
5.5 mg amino acid liberated/minute/milligram. If two or more sources have the
same type of activity, they shall be listed in order of predominance based upon
the amount of enzymatic activity provided.
5.10. Pet food products made from only animal
skin and/or cartilage such as rawhide, pizzles, pig ears, trachea, are not
required to be labeled with a guaranteed analysis statement.
