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Velvet Digest

What is guaranteed analysis on pet food labels?

Author

Mia Phillips

Updated on June 05, 2026

All pet food labels require a guaranteed analysis on the label to advise the purchaser of the product's nutrient content. At minimum, guarantees are required for minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.

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Similarly, how do you read guaranteed analysis on dog food?

To compare two pet foods, first you must calculate the percentage of “dry matter” in each pet food by subtracting the percentage of moisture in the guaranteed analysis from 100 percent. Then, for each nutrient you wish to compare, divide the reported nutrient level by the product's dry matter percentage.

Also, is the net weight required on a feed label? Label Requirements for Feed sold in bags or other containers It may appear on the bag or container itself or on an attached tag or label: Net weight of the contents. The product name and brand name, if any.

Just so, what must be on a pet food label?

A pet food label has eight required items. These are: brand and product name, species for which the food is intended, and the quantity statement. The other five items may be included on the front label or elsewhere on the package, such as on a back or side label (called the "information panel").

Why is crude protein guaranteed at a minimum level?

Any pet food label must state guarantees for the minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, as well as the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture. It's important to note the term “crude” refers to the specific method of testing the product, not to the quality of the nutrient itself.

Related Question Answers

What is a guaranteed analysis?

Broadly speaking, the Guaranteed Analysis (GA) is the nutrient profile found on the back of the bag or can. GAs divulge the diet's basic nutrient composition (ie; the make-up of crude fat, crude protein, and moisture). To put it simply, GAs are just that – guaranteed.

What is a good level of crude fat in dog food?

Actual Product Label Comparison of a High Quality and a Poor Quality Dog Food
Raw, Sold Frozen 'Premium' Dry Dog Food
Guaranteed Analysis (as fed) Guaranteed Analysis
Protein (not less than) 12% 25%
Fat (not less than) 8% 10%
Moisture (not more than) 71% 14%

What is guaranteed fertilizer analysis?

The guaranteed analysis (or fertilizer grade) is a listing of nutrients contained in the bag, by weight. The first number of the analysis lists % N, the second number represents % P2O5 (phosphate), and the third number % K2O (potash). The guaranteed analysis of the fertilizer in the above example is: 18-6-12.

What is Moisture Max in dog food?

Moisture is the water content of a dog food, as expressed in a percentage. Dry kibble tends to have a moisture content of between 6 and 10 percent, semi-moist foods between 15 and 30 percent, and wet foods around 75 percent.

What does guaranteed analysis mean in terms of specific amounts of nutrients in a feed?

Guaranteed Analysis: The guaranteed analysis provides a percentage estimate of the nutrients or diet components that are contained in the feed. They are expressed as minimums (aka not less than) and maximums (aka not more). Some companies still only provide the collective feed names compared to specific feedstuffs.

How do you measure dry matter in dog food?

You'd be left with just 25% “dry matter”. To determine the amount of protein on a dry matter basis, simply divide the reported amount of protein (in this case, 10%) by the total amount of dry matter (25%) in the can. Then, multiply the result by 100.

What does crude fat in dog food mean?

Crude fat content is measured by dissolving the ingredients in a solvent, evaporating the solvent and analyzing the leftovers. Crude fat is an estimate of the amount of fat in Sammy's diet before he metabolizes his food -- the fat portion of the energy he's about to burn.

How do you measure fat in dog food?

When Feeding Fresh Foods:
  1. 6.5 ÷ 30.8 x 1,000 = 211 grams of protein per 1,000 kcal.
  2. 0.3 ÷ 30.8 x 1,000 = 9.7 grams of fat per 1,000 kcal (GFK)

How do you read a pet food label?

Dog Food Label Format
  1. Product and brand name or unique identifier.
  2. Quantity in terms of product weight, liquid measure, or count, depending on the formulation of the food.
  3. Guaranteed analysis, which specifies the amount of specific nutrients.
  4. Ingredients, which must be listed in descending order by weight.

What should be the first ingredients in dog food?

Here are the first several ingredients of an actual dog food: Chicken Meal, Ground Whole Wheat, Wheat Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Ground Rice, Rice Bran, Chicken Fat.

How much should I charge for homemade dog treats?

Homemade dog treats sell for between $15 and $25. They should be priced based on how much it costs you to produce them including the ingredients, packaging, and other selling fees. There should be a minimum of 30% profit margin on homemade dog treats.

Do you need a license to make and sell dog treats?

Sales Laws and Regulations You are required to have a business license in most states in order to sell your dog treats. Online dog treat sales are limited to the states in which you are registered, and no single agency can give you blanket approval to sell in all states.

Do you need a license to sell pet food?

Most states require animal feed to be regulated by the State Departments of Agriculture. The state will either require registration of labels of products or will require a feed license for the firm that makes the pet food products.

What is the best dry dog food?

The Best Dry Dog Foods January 2020
  • Dr. Tim's Dry Dog Food.
  • Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry.
  • Victor Classic Dry Dog Food.
  • Annamaet Dry Dog Food.
  • Canidae Grain-Free Pure Dry Dog Food.
  • Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food.
  • Orijen Dry Dog Food.
  • Diamond Naturals Dry Kibble.

Do dog treats have to be FDA approved?

There is no requirement that pet food products have premarket approval by the FDA. However, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires that pet foods, like human foods, be pure and wholesome, safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

Does the FDA regulate dog treats?

In the United States, pet food is among the most highly regulated of all food products, and must meet federal and state requirements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates both finished pet food products (including treats and chews) and their ingredients.

What ingredients are in dog food?

Understanding Common Dog Food Ingredients. Nutrients are divided into subcategories: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, and water. Common dog-food protein sources include meat, poultry, fish, and some plant ingredients such as corn gluten and soybean meal.

Who regulates animal feed labels?

FDA's

What is not required on a feed tag?

Guarantees for crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber are not required when the feed is not intended to supply those substances or they are present in levels too low to make a significant contribution to the intended function of the feed.