What is AAFCO?

When shopping for dog food, you might notice a few different buzzwords. “Human-grade”, “organic”, and “grain-free” may be familiar keywords on dog food packaging. But what does it mean to be an “AAFCO-approved dog food”?

AAFCO stands for the Association of American Feed Control Officials. This organization regulates standards and sets guidelines for pet food products in the United States. Members of AAFCO set the standards for pet food labeling, formulation, and manufacturing.

AAFCO is not a government agency and has no jurisdiction to regulate pet food. But you can only be a member if you are a local, state, or federal government employee who enforces animal feed regulations. 

Brands are not required to follow standards set by the association. However, most states follow guidelines set by the association in the best interest of animal health and safety. It’s a major red flag for brands to sell pet food that’s not AAFCO-approved.

The Difference Between AAFCO & the FDA

While AAFCO is not a government agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) works closely with them to set regulations for commercial pet food. The FDA is a voting member of the association and participates in AAFCO meetings, seminars, and training sessions. 

The FDA enforces pet food regulations and investigates brands that may be violating manufacturing laws. They ensure everything on your dog’s food label is accurate and up to date. Pet food brands that knowingly violate FDA regulations face fines and other legal penalties. 

AAFCO regulations cannot go into effect without interference from the FDA. Before ingredient definitions are set and voted on, the FDA offers its expertise on the topic and conducts a safety review. If a standard is set by the association, you can assume it’s been researched and approved by the FDA, as well. 

Life Stages for AAFCO Dog Food

With AAFCO dog food, nutrient profiles vary from recipe to recipe. Some brands formulate their food for dogs of every age and size. Others have specific recipes for puppies, pregnant dogs, adults, or senior dogs. Below, you’ll find the AAFCO dog food definitions for different life stages:

• All Life Stages (ALS) - Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs of all ages, including large breed puppies. 

• Gestation/Lactation - Dogs that are pregnant or nursing. 

• Growth - Formulas specific to puppies. 

• Maintenance - Designed for adult or senior dogs

Puppies that are younger than 18 months may eat a growth or all life stages formula. Once pups are one year old, they are technically adults and can safely eat adult maintenance dog food recipes. 

If you are unsure what life stage recipe your dog should be eating, call or visit your vet. They understand your dog’s nutritional needs and will help you decide on the best diet for your pup. 

Why should I feed my pup AAFCO-approved dog food? 

To avoid malnutrition, illness, or unethical manufacturing, every pet parent should choose an AAFCO-approved dog food. This organization plays a key role in defining ingredients and what ends up in your dog’s bowl. For this reason, your dog’s food should be “complete and balanced” by AAFCO standards. 

With AAFCO dog food, you lower the risk of your pup being exposed to harmful ingredients or unbalanced recipes. The association decides on best practices for ingredient sourcing and manufacturing. So approved dog food is less likely to cause harm or illness for your furry friend. 

You distinguish AAFCO-approved dog food by looking at the nutrition label. The words “complete” and “balanced” should both be found here. “Complete” means the recipe has all the required nutrients. “Balanced” ensures that the recipe has the appropriate amounts of each nutrient. 

Sundays for Dogs is an AAFCO-approved dog food that’s made with only 100% human-grade ingredients. Our USDA Beef and All-Natural Turkey recipes meet the all-life stages standards. For adult maintenance, try our All-Natural Chicken dog food.