Reading a pet food label without the marketing

The front of a pet food bag is advertising. The back is regulated. If you only read one thing, make it the nutritional adequacy statement.

The statement that matters

Look for a line saying the food is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles, and for which life stage. Better still is a food that completed feeding trials. 'For intermittent or supplemental feeding only' means it is not a complete diet.

Phrases that mean less than they sound

• 'Premium' and 'gourmet' have no legal definition in pet food.
• 'With chicken' can mean as little as 3% chicken; 'chicken dinner' and 'chicken flavor' have their own separate thresholds.
• 'Human grade' only applies if every ingredient and the facility qualify — rare, and stated explicitly when true.

Ingredient order is by pre-cooking weight, which is why fresh meat often tops a list while contributing less protein than a meal further down. Compare guaranteed analysis on a dry-matter basis if you are switching between wet and dry.