What Organizations Monitor Dog Food?

You want to ensure the food you give your dog isn't just nutritious, but also safe. The incidence of pet food recalls means you can't take that safety for granted. In the United States, government agencies and a private industry monitor dog food safety, but actual regulation is the shared task of federal and state governments.

  1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

    • The FDA regulates all commercial pet foods and treats marketed in the U.S. The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine oversees pet food safety. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act's pet food regulations say all pet foods must be safe for eating and contain no harmful substances, must be produced in sanitary facilities, and must be accurately labeled. Canned pet food must be processed according to federal low-acid canned food law to ensure it does not contain dangerous microorganisms.

    U.S. Department of Agriculture

    • The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service oversees the import and export of animals and animal products. While standards are somewhat different from those for products marketed for human consumption, any meat products imported to the U.S. from a country with exotic livestock diseases must have a veterinary permit.

    Association of American Feed Control Officials

    • The volunteer Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, consists of local, state and federal agencies statutorily charged with regulating animal feed and animal drug sales and distribution. While AAFCO has no regulatory authority, it serves as a link between the agencies that do have such authority. The AAFCO promotes uniformity among the agencies by "developing and implementing uniform and equitable laws, regulations, standards, definitions and enforcement policies for regulating the manufacture, distribution and sale of animal feeds." It falls to the pet food companies to design and manufacture their products according to AAFCO standards. Enforcement of standards is the responsibility of state feed control officials. The AAFCO says most states apply the association's model regulations, although specific language and interpretation may vary by state.

    Recalls

    • Local, state and federal agencies can use the Pet Event Tracking Network, better known as PetNet, to monitor pet food issues. Recalls or product withdrawals might be conducted by the dog food manufacturer or distributor; by request of the FDA; or by the FDA under its own authority. If a recall involves imported dog food or treats, the USDA investigates. A recall will state the name of the product, specific lot numbers or distribution areas affected, and the reason for the recall.