Building on our last article in this series, specific to AAFCO and what it does, here we discuss AAFCO’s recent updates to its official publication and model bills and regulations.
In the Summer of 2023, AAFCO approved new suggested labeling guidelines that include standardized nutrition information, more systemized ingredient statements and storage and handling instructions. AAFCO’s stated goal is to make pet food labeling more akin to human food labeling—including the requirement of a nutritional panel akin to what you can find on a box of cereal.
In short, AAFCO’s new model rules contain significant updates in four key areas:
- Nutrition facts box – Updated to resemble human-food labeling more closely.
- Intended use statement – Updated to new location on the lower-third of the front display panel to help consumers easily identify the purpose of the pet food.
- Ingredient statement – Updated to clarify the use of consistent terminology and allow parentheticals and common or usual names for vitamins.
- Handling and storage instructions (optional) – Updated and standardized with optional icons for greater consistency.
AAFCO has recommended that these changes be implemented within the next six years, although the model rules would need to be adopted—and then enforced—by state authorities before they have any teeth. It is yet to be seen how these new model rules will be adopted by the states, particularly given the PURR Act of 2024 (which was reintroduced as the PURR Act of 2024 and is currently pending in Congress). We’ll discuss the PURR Act in our next post. Stay tuned.