13d • Nutrition
What an AAFCO Statement Means (and Why It Matters on Dog Food Labels)
When you’re choosing a dog food, one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of the label is the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement. It tells you whether a food is actually complete and balanced… or just a fancy snack.
Let’s break it down in simple terms 🐾
What is AAFCO?
AAFCO (say it like “A-F-co”) is an organization that creates nutrition standards for pet food. They don’t make the food — they set the minimum nutrition requirements so dogs get what they need to stay healthy.
Think of it as the nutrition rulebook.
Where do you find the AAFCO statement?
Look on the bag or can near the ingredients list.
You’ll see wording like:
“This food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO for adult maintenance.”
or
“This food provides complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages.”
If there is no AAFCO statement, the food is not a complete diet — it may only be a treat or topper.
Here’s how to read it ⬇️
“Adult Maintenance”
👉 For healthy adult dogs only
“Puppy / Growth”
👉 For growing puppies (sometimes large breeds require special wording)
“All Life Stages”
👉 Safe for puppies and adults (often higher in calories)
“Intermittent or Supplemental Feeding Only”
👉 Not a complete diet — do not feed as the only food
Two ways foods can meet AAFCO
Both are valid:
1️⃣ Formulated to meet standards
(the recipe meets nutrition requirements on paper)
2️⃣ Feeding trials
(the food has been tested on real dogs over time)
Feeding trials provide stronger reassurance — but both are acceptable.
Why this matters for your dog:
The AAFCO statement helps ensure your dog gets:
enough protein, vitamins, and minerals
appropriate nutrients for their life stage
a diet that won’t cause slow, hidden deficiencies
It’s one of the most reliable parts of the label — more meaningful than marketing words like “premium,” “natural,” or “holistic.”
🐾 Quick takeaway
If it’s meant to be a full diet, the label should say:
👉 Complete and balanced according to AAFCO
…and list the life stage it’s designed for.
No statement = not a full diet.
💬 Community Question
Have you ever checked the AAFCO statement on your dog’s food before?
If you want, share a label below — we’ll read it together 🐶✨
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What an AAFCO Statement Means (and Why It Matters on Dog Food Labels)
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