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Labelling of Pet Foods

The labelling of pet foods is covered in the UK by the Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2005, and this applies even to the pet shop that empties food into a bin and sells from that - you have a right to know the ingredients and analysis of that food, plus handling and storage information.

This is called a Statutory Statement and covers everything other than 'straight' foods ('vegetable or animal product in its natural state, fresh or preserved, and any product derived from the industrial processing thereof, and any single organic or inorganic substance, whether or not it contains any additive intended as such for oral animal feeding' )

Straight pet foods must be labelled with their net weight and the name and address of the packer

For pet food ingredients - follow this link
Also check out 'What pet food labels don't tell you'

Statutory statement

The supplier will provide the statement either on the package or in an accompanying document. It must be in a separate panel from other labelling. Sometimes it is on a label sewn into the top of the bag or it may be printed on the bag itself.

When selling pet food loose from bins or other retail displays, the statutory statement must be displayed in a prominent place. It might for example be attached to the bin or with the food in such a way that it is clear to which product it relates.

If a shop makes up pre-packed containers of less than 10kg for sale to the consumer, a similar display notice can be used. For other pre-packed goods greater than 10kg, the shop must mark each pack with the statutory statement.

When the statutory statement is displayed on a notice, care must be taken to make sure any use-by or best-before date and any batch number is updated when new stock is added.

At all times the statutory statement must be clear and visible.

What needs to be on the label?

It is not just branded cans and packs of pet food that need to be labelled correctly. Pet food that is sold either loose from bins, hoppers or other retail bulk displays or in small pre-packs broken down from larger packs must be correctly labelled.

The pet food must be labelled with a statutory statement containing the following information:

• The name and address of the person who guarantees the statement is accurate. This is usually the manufacturer

• The name and description of the product. The description 'complete pet food' or 'complementary pet food' may be used instead of 'complete feeding stuff' or 'complementary feeding stuff'

• The species of animal it is intended for and directions for its correct use. This information is not required if the pet food consists of no more than three ingredients and is described by reference to those ingredients (for example corn mixes)

• Composition. All pet foods, except whole grain mixes, must be labelled with the percentage of moisture if it exceeds 14%

Dog and cat foods must also be labelled with the following (for all other pet foods it is optional):

• Percentage of protein, oil, fibre, ash and a list of ingredients

• Added substances - if any of the following have been added to the pet food this must be stated: antioxidants, colours, preservatives

• Certain minerals

• Vitamins A, D or E together with the amounts present and the date up to which they will remain present in the pet food

• Date mark - for pet foods which have a short life and are highly perishable this must be a use-before date (day, month and year). For all other foods it must be a best-before date (month and year). Where a vitamin expiry date is given the same date will be shown for the best-before and the use-before dates

• Batch number or the date of manufacture

• If particular attention is drawn to the presence or low content of one or more ingredients, the minimum or maximum percentage of those ingredients must be shown

The above is the minimum information which must be provided.

Other labelling

Pre-packed pet foods must be labelled on each pack with the net weight. This must be in metric units. A statement in imperial units is optional. Pet foods in biscuit or cake form in packs of no more than 16 may be sold by number.

Failing to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence. The maximum penalty on conviction in a magistrates court is a fine of £5,000.

Deciphering pet food labels

It can be difficult to compare foods because of the moisture content (i.e. dry diets average 10% water, but moist foods can have 80% water content) and the fact that labels list levels as an 'as fed' rather than 'dry matter' basis which would enable customers to directly compare the different foods.

If you want to convert 'as fed' to 'dry matter' a simple conversion is necessary. Are you ready?

• If a dry food is 10% moisture then it is 90% dry matter (Still with me?)

• If the declared protein content is 20%, then the maths is 20 x (100/90) which gives us the protein on a dry matter basis of 22%.

• Compare this to a canned or pouch food which declares a protein content of 5%. This food contains 80% moisture (or only 20% dry matter) so the maths is 5 x (100/20) or 25% protein on a dry matter basis.

You'll find this with the majority of canned foods, the actual protein content is higher than that of dry complete foods when compared on a dry matter basis. You can do the same for fat, fiber, etc.

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