AAFCO Complete & Balanced (Dog Food)
Definition
‘AAFCO Complete & Balanced’ is a defined nutritional adequacy claim which can be printed on the labels of dog foods. This claim can only be printed when the product meets minimums and maximums for all of the nutrients defined in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for the appropriate life stages (adult maintenance, growth and reproduction, all life stages). This claim can be substantiated by a calculation of the minimums and maximums for all of the nutrients defined in the nutrient profiles for the appropriate life stages for the specific product or by an AAFCO-protocol feeding trial conducted for a minimum of 6 months.
Expanded Body
The nutrient profiles for dog foods were first published by the AAFCO in 1992. The 2023 AAFCO Official Publication lists the minimum and maximum concentrations of 37 nutrients for dog foods, including the minimum percentage of crude protein in dog foods as 18% DM for adult dogs and 22.5% DM for growth and and reproductive dogs. Other nutrients such as crude fat (5.5% DM), calcium (0.5–2.5% DM), phosphorus (0.4–2% DM), and taurine (no minimum for dogs but is a required nutrient for cats) and 37 others are listed on a dry-matter basis with a metabolizable energy of 4,000 kcal/kg.
Processed animal food sold in India is governed by FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 (2021) and can be compared with AAFCO nutrient profiles for complete nutrition in animal food. Thus all “complete and balanced” dog foods bearing a nutritional claim on their packaging are formulated to meet the nutrient levels as specified in the AAFCO 2023 Dog Food Nutrient Profiles. “Complementary” or “supplementary” dog foods are marketed but must not to be used as sole diet for dogs. According to WSAVA’s 2024 Global Nutrition Guidelines, owners of pets should look for brands that have a full time PhD-qualified animal nutritionist to validate the formulations against the AAFCO nutrient profiles for complete and balanced nutrition.
Quick Facts
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Adult Min Protein | 18% DM |
| Growth Min Protein | 22.5% DM |
| Nutrients Regulated | 37 |
| Substantiation | Formula calc or 6-mo trial |
| FSSAI Reference | Standard 2.2.10 |
AAFCO NUTRIENT PROFILES — KEY MINIMUMS FOR ADULT DOGS
| Nutrient | AAFCO Minimum (Adult) | AAFCO Minimum (Growth) | Common Indian Brand Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crude Protein | 18% DM | 22.5% DM | 21–38% DM |
| Crude Fat | 5.5% DM | 8.5% DM | 10–18% DM |
| Calcium | 0.5% DM | 1.0% DM | 0.8–1.5% DM |
| Phosphorus | 0.4% DM | 0.8% DM | 0.6–1.2% DM |
| Vitamin E | 50 IU/kg | 50 IU/kg | 80–200 IU/kg |
| Zinc | 80 mg/kg DM | 100 mg/kg DM | 100–180 mg/kg DM |
Related Terms
Faq
Q: Does ‘AAFCO Complete & Balanced’ mean the dog food is high quality?
No. By ‘AAFCO complete and balanced’ we are referring to a diet that meets the minimum requirements of a life maintaining diet. This does not necessarily mean that the highest quality of ingredients have been used in the formulation of the diet. Cheap, low quality ingredients such as corn meal and unnamed meat by-products can be used to make a complete and balanced diet according to the AAFCO requirements. When speaking of diet quality one must look at the source of the ingredients, the digestibility of the protein, and the presence or absence of various additives. These factors are generally not considered when referring to a statement of ‘AAFCO complete and balanced’. .
Key Takeaways
- The terms complete and balanced as defined by AAFCO are used to describe products that contain all 37 of the minimum/maximum nutrients required for a specific life stage and meets or exceeds the levels for each nutrient for that life stage.
- 2 ways to substantiate complete and balanced are by calculation of the formulation and by the AAFCO-protocol 6-month feeding trial.
- FSSAI Standard 2.2.10 references the AAFCO nutrient profiles for determining complete and balanced nutrition in dog foods available in the Indian market.
- Completeness does not necessarily equal quality. Even if a complete and balanced diet is given to a pet, the quality of nutrients in that diet may suffer due to the low quality of the raw materials used. The source of nutrients and their digestibility is more important than completeness.
