{"id":22003,"date":"2024-04-30T20:41:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T18:41:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/?p=22003"},"modified":"2026-10-02T12:51:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T10:51:38","slug":"pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Food Labeling in the USA. Summary of general labeling requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_88 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac590fbc9704\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6ac590fbc9704\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements\/#How_Pet_Food_and_Treats_Are_Regulated_in_the_US\" >How Pet Food and Treats Are Regulated in the US<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements\/#The_Role_of_AAFCO_and_Federal_Regulations_21_CFR\" >The Role of AAFCO and Federal Regulations (21 CFR)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements\/#Mandatory_Elements_on_Pet_Food_Labels\" >Mandatory Elements on Pet Food Labels<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/pet-food-labeling-in-the-usa-summary-of-general-labeling-requirements\/#Regulatory_Compliance_Consulting_for_Exporting_to_the_US\" >Regulatory Compliance Consulting for Exporting to the US<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>The marketing of pet food and treats in the US is <strong>regulated at the federal level by the FDA<\/strong>, which requires sanitary conditions and safety, and at the state level through guidelines and the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR).<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafco.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>AAFCO<\/strong><\/a> coordinates the <strong>8 mandatory statements<\/strong> that must appear on product labels to ensure clear and truthful labeling.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Pet_Food_and_Treats_Are_Regulated_in_the_US\"><\/span>How Pet Food and Treats Are Regulated in the US<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pet food products and treats in the United States are regulated by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\"><strong>FDA (Food and Drug Administration)<\/strong><\/a>. This agency governs the manufacturing and sale of such products, requiring that pet food, just like human food, be manufactured under safe and sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be labeled clearly and truthfully.<\/p>\n<p>For information on state regulations, the FDA relies on the <strong>Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)<\/strong> and other state regulators as an information source. AAFCO is a voluntary organization created by state, federal, and industry officials who have developed a set of <em>\u201cModel Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food\u201d<\/em> published in official AAFCO documents.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Role_of_AAFCO_and_Federal_Regulations_21_CFR\"><\/span>The Role of AAFCO and Federal Regulations (21 CFR)<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although the Association <strong>is not a regulatory body<\/strong>, regulatory agencies such as the FDA recognize AAFCO guidelines as essential guidance in pet food oversight.<\/p>\n<p>A pet food label is a <strong>highly important communication tool<\/strong> regulated at both the federal and state levels. These regulations apply not only to labels attached to the food but also to any form of communication regarding any aspect of the product across different media. Corresponding federal regulations are published in the <strong>Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 21 CFR<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Labeling requirements for pet food and treats are set forth within AAFCO through model bills that include a <strong>labeling checklist<\/strong>. The main regulations focus on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Labeling information.<\/li>\n<li>Permissible ingredients that may be used.<\/li>\n<li>Rules governing descriptive and non-mandatory information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Mandatory_Elements_on_Pet_Food_Labels\"><\/span>Mandatory Elements on Pet Food Labels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>AAFCO has outlined the <strong>8 mandatory elements<\/strong> that must strictly be included on every pet food label:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Brand and product name:<\/strong> Covers how ingredients may be included in the product name and certain uses of descriptors.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Name of the intended target species:<\/strong> The name of the species for which the product is intended must be conspicuously indicated.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Quantity statement:<\/strong> The net weight or volume must be stated in the lower third of the principal display panel.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Guaranteed analysis:<\/strong> Lists the nutrients provided by the food, backed by verifiable analytical methods. Guarantees must be given in a specific order, in specified units, and with minimums or maximums depending on the case.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ingredient statement:<\/strong> Ingredients must be listed in descending order by weight within the formulation (from highest to lowest).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nutritional adequacy statement:<\/strong> Indicates that the food is complete for the declared life stage (certain specific products may be exempt from this statement).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Feeding directions:<\/strong> Includes recommended feeding amounts based on weight\/species. Depending on the product category, additional information may be required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Name and address of manufacturer or distributor:<\/strong> Identifies the person or company responsible for the product and their location. Where necessary, other manufacturing or distributing companies may also be included.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-23750\" src=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Regulacion-y-Etiquetado-de-Pet-Food-en-EE.-UU.webp\" alt=\"Pet Food Regulation and Labeling in the US - FDA and AAFCO\" width=\"804\" height=\"582\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Regulacion-y-Etiquetado-de-Pet-Food-en-EE.-UU.webp 1000w, https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Regulacion-y-Etiquetado-de-Pet-Food-en-EE.-UU-300x217.webp 300w, https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Regulacion-y-Etiquetado-de-Pet-Food-en-EE.-UU-768x556.webp 768w, https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Regulacion-y-Etiquetado-de-Pet-Food-en-EE.-UU-770x557.webp 770w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 804px) 100vw, 804px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Additional statements and layout according to packaging:<\/strong> Beyond these 8 mandatory elements, other statements may be included provided they follow specific analytical methods and formats. Depending on the container design:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If the label is placed on the front only, <strong>all items must appear there<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>If the label consists of a front and back panel, <strong>certain mandatory elements must be included on the principal display panel<\/strong> (the front of the package).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Regulatory_Compliance_Consulting_for_Exporting_to_the_US\"><\/span>Regulatory Compliance Consulting for Exporting to the US<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Kaeltia Consulting<\/strong> provides specialized support in <strong>scientific and regulatory affairs<\/strong> to meet the regulatory compliance needs for pet food products in the USA, strictly adhering to agency criteria and new regulatory frameworks.<\/p>\n<p>With over <strong>10 years of experience<\/strong>, Kaeltia Consulting supports clients worldwide in marketing their products under specific international regulations.<\/p>\n<p>To learn more about <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/services\/\">our services<\/a><\/strong>, visit our website at <a href=\"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/\">kaeltia.com<\/a> or contact our team directly at <a href=\"mailto:info@kaeltia.com\">info@kaeltia.com<\/a>. We will be delighted to assist you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The marketing of pet food and treats in the US is regulated at the federal level by the FDA, which requires sanitary conditions and safety, and at the state level through guidelines and the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR). The AAFCO coordinates the 8 mandatory statements that must appear on product labels to ensure clear and truthful labeling. How Pet Food and Treats Are Regulated in the US Pet[&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":22002,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"image","meta":{"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_selected_social_profile":[]},"categories":[68],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22003"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22003"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23755,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22003\/revisions\/23755"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kaeltia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}