What Should you Look for on Pet Food Labels?
It is very important that you read and understand the information on your pet’s food label. If you’re like most people, reading the ingredient list will be where you start because it gives important clues as to how nutritious food might be. Ingredient lists may also help guide your choice of what type of diet (for example dry, canned, or semi-moist) is best for your pet. But there is much more to learn from a good pet food label than just ingredients – read on!
Sorting through Pet Food Label Claims
As we’ve said before, all foods — both people and pets — are made up of substances known as nutrients. Nutrients provide calories or energy to fuel our bodies and regulate our organs. The nutrients your pet needs to stay healthy include proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, and water. In addition to these basic nutrients, ingredients such as preservatives, colors, flavors, and other substances are also included in pet food as a means of promoting overall health or manipulating the texture or taste of food.
In order for foods containing any kind of animal by-products to be labeled as “complete and balanced,” certain standards must be met. These standards include proper nutrient levels (proteins and fats) minimum requirements for essential vitamins and minerals respecting minimum meat content requirements prohibiting the use of diseased animals (animals which have died otherwise would go to rendering – making dogfood – instead).
These standards are set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, a regulatory agency that also sets labeling rules.
Many companies will try to convince you that their foods meet or exceed these standards, but don’t be fooled by clever marketing tactics and buzzwords. A scrupulous company will sell you a bag of food for your pet; they won’t make any claims about the standardization of another company’s product. The only thing truly reliable on ingredient lists is “Approved By U.S. Federal Regulations,” and even this should be taken with a grain of salt because it may refer to an older version of the AAFCO regulations (see How Long Does Pet Food Stay Good for?).
About “Premium” Pet Foods
As pet food consumers became more savvy, many companies sought to make their foods sound better. “Premium” is a word that has been used and abused by the industry in an attempt to trick pet owners into thinking their foods contain something special.
We can’t stress this enough: just because it’s expensive, doesn’t mean it’s good for your pet! Animals fed quality commercial diets live long and healthy lives. We feel very strongly that you should never pay more than $50 for a 15-lb bag of dog or cat food. At Diamond Pet Foods, we produce high-quality products at affordable prices so every animal lover can provide the best nutrition possible to his/her pets.
Once again, when considering price differences between brands, there is a simple explanation to remember:
The cheapest foods are generally the most affordable because they contain lower-quality ingredients. If you feed your pet low-quality food for much of its life, it will not only be less healthy but will cost you much more in veterinarian bills later on. In other words, when looking at costs, look to see how many years that bag of food is going to last your pet and how many visits it’s going to take away from the vet!