At the most recent AAFCO meeting, industry strongly objected to a proposal to allow pet foods to manufacture a reduced copper content pet food. AAFCO agreed to table the discussion only until the next meeting in January 2024.
Due to the strong objection by industry (possibly influencing AAFCO), we sent the following position statement to AAFCO’s Pet Food Committee on 8/8/23.
Association for Truth in Pet Food believes there is a significant need for dog and cat foods that include a voluntary copper maximum guarantee, labeled as Low Copper.
There has been a rise in cases of copper storage disease, being noticed by both the pet owning public and practicing veterinarians. Along with these increases of sick pets, pet owners and veterinarians have learned AAFCO has not established a required maximum for copper. These stakeholders of pet food often find it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain the actual copper level in their pet’s food (or recommended brand) as many manufacturers refuse to disclose this information.
We believe that the descriptive term ‘Low Copper’ aligns with other allowed label terms; Low Calorie, Low Fat. However, we note that current AAFCO regulations do not allow a ‘Low Carbohydrate’ claim, instead allowing a ‘Less or Reduced’ carbohydrate claim. Should AAFCO determine that a ‘Reduced Copper’ label claim is more appropriate, we would not object to this term.
We are aware that AFIA and PFI argued against this descriptive term being allowed on any pet food, part of their reasoning was some consumers might assume the ‘Low Copper’ or ‘Reduced Copper’ label claim has therapeutic levels of copper (such as below AAFCO minimum). In order to better inform pet owners and veterinarians, we suggest the Guaranteed Analysis statement of copper minimum and maximum include an asterisk that notes ‘This pet food does not include therapeutic levels of copper.’
We encourage the AAFCO Pet Food Committee to approve the voluntary descriptive term ‘Low Copper’ or ‘Reduced Copper’ no later than the January 2024 meeting.
We encourage any pet owner that wishes to have an option for lower copper level (guaranteed) pet foods, please send AAFCO a message. Pet owners can message AAFCO here: https://www.aafco.org/contact/.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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Sheila Eddy
August 9, 2023 at 10:46 am
Can’t thank you enough on this reply. Bravo!!
Faith Jones
August 9, 2023 at 11:22 am
Thank you, Susan for addressing the problem of excess copper in dog foods/feeds! Many breeds have copper storage issues! I do not see copper listed, even in the human grade whole food brands!
Jae
August 9, 2023 at 6:29 pm
This ticks me off. My doberman was diagnosed with copper liver storage disease in January after being affected probably before I adopted him but not clinically or to the extent of it affecting his bloodwork enough for vets to be concerned until 2021 when he was very sick. No one took my seriously when I raised concerns about him having days when he seemed unwell and irritable.
Because I don’t want to feed a “prescription” low copper diet, I had to email tons of companies inquiring their copper levels. Most are 2-3, sometimes 4 times the minimum copper requirement. Royal Canin refused to provide me with any information on their hepatic diet, told me to ask the vet.
There’s simply no way for me to contact every company about this. A reduced, less, or low copper label would be SO helpful!! I don’t care about the wording, anything that immediately lets me know the food might be a potential candidate for my dog is helpful. Having a disclaimer that it’s not a therapeutic level is fine. For people with a breed susceptible to copper issues, feeding a food with lower levels might still be helpful to mitigate issues or just be a peace of mind.
I found Nature’s Logic Distinction Sardine had the same amount of copper as one RX food without synthetic vitamins and since he’s been eating that, the liver enzymes that have been elevated for a year and a half finally went to normal after a few months.
Even with commerical raw, dehydrated, freezedried, cooked, etc. it’s hard to find a low copper food, so it’s not just a kibble issue.
Lhasapso
August 10, 2023 at 6:38 am
Susan, thanks once again for all the hard work you put in, advocating for pet owners and our fur babies. I so much appreciate all the informative articles you publish.
H
August 10, 2023 at 11:58 am
Thank you Susan
Natalie
December 24, 2023 at 11:53 am
This is all fine and dandy, but diseases are also rising in purebred dogs because of closed gene pools. It’s not mixes that are being seen for copper storage issues, it’s purebreds.