How do I know my dog food is healthy?

One of the first questions dog parents ask us about Bubba’s Bowl dog food is, “How do I know this is a healthy choice for my pup?”

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes standards for things like ingredient safety and truth-in-labeling, but they don’t regulate whether pet food is nutritious. Instead, it relies on nutritional adequacy standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a group of state and federal regulators.

AAFCO does three things to ensure pet food is nutritious and safe:

• They have standard definitions for ingredients. For example, “meat” must be from cattle, pigs, sheep or goats and can’t contain bones.

• They provide label standards. There are eight labeling requirements, including how ingredients are listed and how much to feed your pet. The most important of these is the Nutritional Adequacy Statement (see below).

• They set nutrient profiles. These define minimum and maximum standards for all of the proteins, vitamins and minerals that are used in making pet food.

Bubba’s Bowl (and every reputable dog food company) adheres strictly to AAFCO standards. Whichever dog food you choose for your pup, make sure to look for a Nutritional Adequacy Statement on the label, which should say something like this (taken directly from our label):

Bubba’s Bowl Turkey Adult Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles for adult dogs.

This ensures that the food you feed your dog adheres to the highest industry standards and is healthy and nutritious for your dog’s stage of life.