The Guaranteed Analysis statement on a pet food label is a tiny little section that is both significantly important and a tremendous failure for pet owners at the same time.
Pet food regulations require each pet food label to include a Guaranteed Analysis. The information required is:
- Minimum percentage of crude protein.
- Minimum percentage of crude fat.
- Maximum percentage of crude fiber.
- Maximum percentage of moisture.
Unlike any other statement on the pet food label, the information in the Guaranteed Analysis is a manufacturer ‘guarantee’. A guarantee the pet food contains x amount minimum protein, fat, and x amount maximum fiber, moisture.
Pet food manufacturers know the information stated in the guaranteed analysis is something that regulatory authorities test for (to validate the claim). Manufacturers know that if a pet food does not meet the claimed guarantee, regulatory authorities could force a recall or issue a stop-sale order. An example would be if a manufacturer claims 20% minimum crude protein in the guarantee but the product actually contains only 15% protein; regulatory could require this manufacturer to recall or issue an immediate stop-sale order.
Across all pet foods – all styles, all manufacturers – the Guaranteed Analysis is probably the most accurate information provided on a pet food label (because the industry knows this is something regulatory checks).
But…as good as this guarantee seems, the Guaranteed Analysis is also a huge failure to pet owners. The protein and fat percentage are only required to be listed as a minimum. A pet food that claims 20% protein and 5% fat in the Guaranteed Analysis could actually contain 30% protein and 15% fat.
The Guaranteed Analysis is only half of the information pet owners need. It is only a partial guarantee that results (in many instances) in pet owners being misled.
What if your veterinarian tells you your pet needs to be eating a low protein or low fat diet? Without a minimum to maximum range guarantee for protein and fat on the label, easily accessible, some veterinarians will advise pet owners they have to feed a higher priced and potentially lesser quality prescription diet whose label does guarantee fat/protein maximum.
Without the minimum to maximum range guarantee for protein and fat being easily accessible, some pet owners are forced to spend hours asking multiple manufacturers for this information. And then have to trust the customer service representative gave you the correct (and truthful) answer.
We NEED a minimum and maximum guarantee for protein and fat in pet food printed on the label.
We have submitted this label update request to FDA and to AAFCO, however we know this could take years for the label requirement to be put in place by regulatory. BUT…there is good news…manufacturers can provide us with this information voluntarily. And many will, if we ask!
Any pet food manufacturer can voluntarily include in the Guaranteed Analysis a maximum for protein and fat. Regulations will allow manufacturers to provide us the information (in the Guaranteed Analysis) as a voluntary claim.
Ask your pet food manufacturer to include in the Guaranteed Analysis maximum protein and maximum fat as a voluntary statement on their label.
This is not an easy ask for pet food manufacturers, there are many things they have to consider.
- New pet food labels will need to be printed that include the voluntary maximum claim, but in the interim the information can be provided on their website.
- Because nutrient levels can change from batch to batch, multiple batches will need to be tested in order to guarantee a maximum. Some manufacturers already perform this testing consistently, but some do not. It might take a little time for some companies to comply with our request.
For those companies that do listen to our request, recognize this is a BIG EFFORT they are making for our benefit. Thank them for their support of pet owners.
They can provide us with this needed information…if we ask.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
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maria
November 21, 2025 at 12:19 pm
Yes, minimum and max are both necessary to make proper dietary decisions for our pets.
I also often wonder how that never changing kcal/can (or serving) number never changes. We know that the contents of a can of pet food containing rendered products will absolutely contain an ever changing variety of products. So how do they manage, and do they even test?, to have a stable kcal statement?
charles davidson
November 21, 2025 at 4:03 pm
is maximum only valuable for non-low level diets? i.e., are pet foods so high that non-low level diet pets, are in danger?