Pet Food Regulations Designed to Keep Your Dog Healthy

We love our pets! Dogs are among the most popular pets in existence and if you absolutely love your dog, you will ensure their health is a priority. Pet food is currently not as regulated as human food, but still maintains certain standards to keep dogs safe and healthy. However, more regulations exist in the United States for dog food than any other country. New regulations have been instrumental in keeping down the potential for recalls in products and ensuring the food you buy for your pet is safe. Here are just some of the regulations pet food manufacturers are currently following.

Labels Must Be Inspected and Deemed Accurate

In order for a dog food company to be licensed, they must undergo a series of inspections for the facility as well as the label printed on the product. Pet food labels include an ingredients list that denotes the primary ingredients first. For instance, if the primary ingredient is chicken, it will be listed first. When purchasing dog food if the first ingredient is corn or another grain, the dog may not be getting adequate protein. This is often seen in less expensive dog food varieties. Dog food labels must pass this initial inspection before they are able to be sold.

FSMA Requirements

Recalls in the pet industry in the past few years has led to stricter regulations on how pet food is managed and the overall cleanliness standard of facilities. The Food Safety Modernization Act or FSMA has been a part of the human food industry for over 70 years, but in recent years, it has moved to regulations in the pet food industry as well. Currently, each pet food facility must undergo an inspection performed by the FSMA to ensure it is properly maintaining equipment and cleaning measures to ensure the safety of your dog.

No Misleading Terms

Terms in the food industry such as low fat, light, and lean are not actually regulated terms. These terms are often used to sell products as diet based. However, the practice is strictly regulated in pet food products. Foods that claim to be low in fat or overall healthy, must be able to back up those claims through clinical research and prove them during inspection.

Gentle Processing™

Proper processing of foods is essential for the health and wellness of both humans and animals. Gentle Processing™ is doing their part to ensure all food is healthy and safe for human and animal consumption. Our specialized process is easily implemented for all types of food production and can help ensure that pet food, human food, and all consumables are safe and bacteria free. If you are concerned about your pet’s food or about what you may be eating, ask if it has been processed with Gentle Processing™. Gentle Processing™ can be used from harvest to table and all points in between to ensure food is safe every step of the way. Is your pet’s food truly safe?