Calorie Count on Labels

just mike

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
2,083
Purraise
38
Location
Saint Louis, MO
An interesting update on the calorie count on pet food labels proposed by AAFCO. Looks pretty complicated to me for the average consumer. I hope they make reading it on the actual pet food label easier. I still think it's a pretty good idea. I hope this is not a repost. I looked and did not see anything already posted on here about this but I might be mistaken.

Here is the link:

http://www.petfoodindustry.com/AAFCOcalorielabel.aspx
 

ducman69

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
3,232
Purraise
47
Location
Texas
People understand human food labels, and pet food labels should mimic this as closely as possible to be helpful.

That way they can see fat, protein, carbs, and fiber % of Calories at a glance.

I would say only caloric density is important to compare foods and people measure food by VOLUME not by weight, and people aren't familiar with kcal measurement. So just make it Calories/cup. Everything should also be listed on a dry matter basis, so people can see that wet food is NOT low in protein, its just diluted in water which is fine and no confusion arises since dry varies 9-12% and wet 87-91% from what I've seen.

Food label:
(by total calories)
Protein % : ____
Fat % : ____
Fiber % : ____
Carb % : ____
Taurine %: ____
Moisture %: ____
Calories/Cup: ____

Ingredients by processed weight (not precooked/processed weight): x, y, z...
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

just mike

TCS Member
Thread starter
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 11, 2011
Messages
2,083
Purraise
38
Location
Saint Louis, MO
Originally Posted by Ducman69

People understand human food labels, and pet food labels should mimic this as closely as possible to be helpful.

That way they can see fat, protein, carbs, and fiber % of Calories at a glance.

I would say only caloric density is important to compare foods and people measure food by VOLUME not by weight, and people aren't familiar with kcal measurement. So just make it Calories/cup. Everything should also be listed on a dry matter basis, so people can see that wet food is NOT low in protein, its just diluted in water which is fine and no confusion arises since dry varies 9-12% and wet 87-91% from what I've seen.

Food label:
(by total calories)
Protein % : ____
Fat % : ____
Fiber % : ____
Carb % : ____
Taurine %: ____
Moisture %: ____
Calories/Cup: ____

Ingredients by processed weight (not precooked/processed weight): x, y, z...
My thoughts exactly. This is a proposed issue for AAFCO and I will be interested in the final result. I think it is very important that the average consumer can understand exactly what they are buying.
 
Top