Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Pet Food Regulations

The Next AAFCO Meeting is Virtual

Pet owners can listen to the meeting for no charge or for a fee you can ask a question.

Pet owners can listen to the meeting for no charge or for a fee you can ask a question.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a private organization that writes pet food laws. Each year the organization hosts two meetings (one in January, one in August) to discuss and vote on new regulations and definitions for pet food/animal feed. AAFCO members – which consists of state and federal government employees – are the only individuals allowed to vote on any new rule or definition. During the meetings, attendees are allowed to ask questions regarding the discussion topics.

This year, because of COVID-19, AAFCO is hosting a virtual meeting – Wednesday August 5, 2020 through Friday August 7, 2020. Pet owners can listen to the meeting for free, or if you wish to be a little more involved in the meeting – pet owners can pay the $350.00 fee to attend virtually. Paid virtual attendance allows pet owners the ability to ask questions and give opinions (only regarding the discussion topics). Paid virtual attendance also allows pet owners the ability to watch a webinar of the meeting versus only listening in.

Topics of discussion of concern to pet owners include an update on Human Grade pet foods during the Pet Food Committee session. There has been discussion for several years at AAFCO about lessening the standards for a human grade pet food. As well, AAFCO has been developing a verification system for the ‘Human Grade’ claim on pet food labels. FDA originally verified the claim, but several years ago FDA handed that responsibility over to state feed officials (state Department of Agriculture representatives). State feed officials were not pleased at the human grade verification duties, and in turn asked AAFCO to develop a system where verification of human grade pet food would be performed by the USDA Agriculture Marketing Services. AAFCO will write the ‘standard’ (or requirements) for human grade pet food and USDA AMS will be responsible for verifying all requirements are met.

Our concern – because AAFCO will be responsible for the standard or requirements of a human grade claim on pet food labels – is the standard itself will be watered down to an extent the claim has little meaning. We will be listening closely to this discussion.

Also during the AAFCO Pet Food Committee meeting will be discussion of “Therapeutic Claims” of pet foods, an update on AAFCO’s Pet Food Label Modernization efforts, and a discussion of “Fatty Acids and Arachidonic acid (ARA) – Are they essential or not essential per AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles?

The Pet Food Committee Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 5th-2:15 PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT).

The Ingredient Definitions Committee will take place in two sessions on two different days. Day 2 is of more interest to pet owners. It appears that AAFCO will be discussing animal protein pet food ingredients (meat and meat meal ingredients). We have not been provided to more specifics of what the discussion will be, but we intend to be listening closely. Our consumer association – Association for Truth in Pet Food – submitted to AAFCO improved animal protein pet food ingredient definitions 1 1/2 years ago. We have not been notified our proposed ingredient definitions will be discussed, but we are hopeful.

The Ingredient Definitions Committee Meeting will take place on Thursday, August 6 – 1:15PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT) and Friday, August 7 -1:15 PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT).

Another session of interest will be AAFCO’s presentation from former FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine director Bernadette Dunham. Dr. Dunham is scheduled to discuss “One Health” – an effort to encourage physicians and veterinarians to work together, “advocates a comprehensive approach to health and environmental problems.” As Dr. Dunham herself allowed pet food/animal feed to contain diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter during her time at FDA – it will be interesting to hear her spin on the One Health initiative.

AAFCO has not posted call-in information yet (for pet owners to listen). For those with interest, you can visit this page on the AAFCO website: https://www.aafco.org/Meetings/Annual/2020 – and watch for a category of ‘Committee Final Agenda’ to be posted. When the Final Agenda of each meeting is posted, it will include the phone number for pet owners to call in to listen (for free) to each session.

We will be participating the the paid webinar (and asking questions) and will provide pet owners a full update after the meeting.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food


Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here


The 2020 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.

5 Comments

5 Comments

  1. Brian

    July 27, 2020 at 12:27 pm

    “The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a private organization that writes pet food laws.”
    Wait. What? Did I read that correctly? How can a private “anything” write laws that effect all of us?!?! I thought “laws” could only be written by our duly elected legislators? This has to change! Not sure why the light bulb in my head didn’t go off before now! omg

    • Susan Thixton

      July 27, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      Yes – that is correct. The private organization AAFCO writes law that governs pet food and animal feed and writes all legal definitions of ingredients. I agree, this should change.

  2. Regina

    July 27, 2020 at 2:36 pm

    OMG, Brian, you make the best point ever. like, “win the internet” in the non-funny way, but just the best comment ever.
    Private writing of laws??? Gee, can I write one too???

  3. Tina

    July 27, 2020 at 11:36 pm

    Thanks so much for attending Susan

  4. Robert Drexler

    July 28, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    Most laws are actually written by lobbyists and introduced then by a “friendly” politician to the legislature. I’m guessing maybe: https://www.petfoodinstitute.org ??

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Learn More

Human Grade & Feed Grade
Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here.

 

The Regulations
Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

 

The Many Styles of Pet Food
An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here.

 

The Ingredients
Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here.

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

 

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

The List

The Treat List

Special Pages to Visit

Subscribe to our Newsletter
Click Here

Pet Food Recall History (2007 to present)
Click Here

Find Healthy Pet Foods Stores
Click Here

About TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

Friends of TruthaboutPetFood.com
Click Here

You May Also Like