No wonder cat food labels are confusing!
When pet foods became common, the template just got moved over from livestock and never really got adjusted. It’s a lot different from what we are used to seeing on “Nutrition Facts” labels for human foods.” – Cailin R. Heinze, VMD, MS, DACVN
To clear up some of the confusion, the authors provide a guaranteed analysis primer.
Source: Catnip, April 21, 2021. Link. Lots of numbers, difficult to comprehend such as:
- The nutrient values in the Guaranteed Analyses are minimums and maximums, not specific values. Note: only two ingredients have maximums: fiber and water.
- The reason some nutrients are given as percentages and others as milligrams per kilogram presumably goes back to how much the nutrient actually weighs.
- A nutrient in the Guaranteed Analysis with an asterisk next to it means the substance is not considered an essential nutrient by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Also see: Search Results for: cat food, Animal Health Digest. Link.