Purina website tells pet owners: “According to Association of American Feed Control Officers, there is no legal definition for the term” human class “. To label a food such as a” human class dog food “, all ingredients must be edible for humans, and the food itself must fulfill federal manufacturing and packaging rules. As a result, almost no dog food can fulfill these standards.“
Part true, part fake.
Unlike what Purina says, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has a legal definition of human class. AAFCO classifies “human class” pet food as a feed termin, defined as: “Each ingredient and the resulting product must be stored, handled, processed and transported in a manner that is consistent and complies with 21 CFR Part 117 and the applicable federal human law required by ingredient, process and/or type of construction.”
Purina was correct when he specifies the legal requirements for pets. But that is not true to “Almost no dog food can meet these standards”. This category of pet food is the fastest growing segment, more and more new companies in human quality are established each year.
Purina manufactures Feed Grade Pet Foods (which Purina does not reveal on her website). AAFCO classifies “feed quality” as a feed term, defined as: “Materials that have been determined are safe, functional and suitable for its intended use in animal food, handled and marked appropriately and complies with federal food, drug and cosmetic act unless otherwise explicitly permitted by the appropriate state or federal agency (suitable for use in animal feed).” It is a significant fact that the definition of feed quality includes revealing that ingredients for feeding can be legal, or may be illegal Ingredients.
Unfortunately for pet owners, the disclosure stops at the legal definition of feed. Feed quality pets that include ''explicitly allowed“Illegal ingredients are not revealed to the consumer of pet food. Manufacturers of pet food are not required to reveal if their products include illegal ingredients.
One of many benefits of a pet food that says “human class” on the label gives pet owners insurance that all ingredients are food … not feed.
Can a pet food that uses 100% human edible/human ingredients but is made in a licensed pet food to make human quality?
No. AAFCO's default states: “In the Aafco -Defined feed term” human class “, the use of the term” human class “is only acceptable with reference to the product as a whole.” As much as all companies would deserve to reveal to pet owners on their website they use human quality ingredients, the regulations say they cannot if the food is manufactured in a licensed human food facility. Unless the pet food meets all legal requirements in the claim, human ratings (or similar claims) cannot be mentioned on the label, the site or advertising.
Can a raw pet food manufactured in a licensed human food facility under the USDA inspection with 100% human quality ingredients as human class?
No, for two reasons. One – AAFCO's standard for the claim on human quality emphasizes “Ready-to-eat food”. AAFCO's understanding of food that is ready to eat matches it in human food, which would not include a raw meat product. Two, many raw pet foods include soil legs, another issue for Aafco because humans do not consume bones. AAFCO's standard for human quality should be updated to acknowledge a ready -made eating pet contains raw … but … it's aafco. Maybe in 20 years.
To learn more about the legal animals for pets for pets, Aafco provides this standard: Click here.
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author buyers watch out, co -authors dinner pawsible
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