Glossary

AAFCO

The US body that sets model pet food rules and nutrient profiles but does not itself approve, test or certify any dog food.

Also called: Association of American Feed Control Officials, AAFCO statement, AAFCO approved, AAFCO nutrient profile

AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, is a group of state and federal officials who write model rules for animal feed and pet food labels. It publishes nutrient profiles that set minimum levels, and some maximums, for dogs at different life stages. State officials, not AAFCO, enforce the rules.

A statement on a bag such as "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles" means the food was designed to match those profiles, or tested in feeding trials. It is a minimum standard for nutrient content.

AAFCO does not approve, certify or inspect individual foods, so "AAFCO approved" on a package is a misleading phrase. The statement also says nothing about ingredient quality, digestibility or manufacturing safety. Many vets also ask whether a company employs qualified nutritionists.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Complete and balanced A label claim that a dog food contains every nutrient a dog needs, in the right amounts, for the life stage named on the package. Life stage The category on a dog food label, such as growth, adult maintenance or all life stages, that shows the nutrient needs the recipe is designed to meet. Kibble Dry, cooked, bite-size pieces of dog food, usually made by extrusion, that are shelf-stable, convenient and the most common way to feed dogs. Dry matter basis A way of comparing dog foods by removing the water from their labeled nutrient percentages so wet and dry foods can be compared fairly.