AAFCO Meeting begins Thursday August 10, 2017

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is set to commence its annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington, on Thursday, August 10, 2017, marking a pivotal moment for pet food regulation and transparency. The opening session, beginning at 8 AM Pacific Time, initiates a series of discussions and decisions that will significantly shape the future of pet food ingredient definitions and labeling standards across the United States. This gathering, a critical event in the pet food industry calendar, provides a rare opportunity for public observation, with consumers able to access key sessions online via WebEx or through a dedicated conference call line.

Understanding AAFCO: The Cornerstone of Pet Food Regulation

AAFCO functions as an independent, non-governmental organization comprised of representatives from state departments of agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its primary mandate is to establish and maintain legal definitions for all animal feed and pet food ingredients, as well as to develop "model bills" that are frequently adopted into state law, thereby creating a de facto national standard for pet food composition, safety, and labeling. While not a regulatory body in itself, AAFCO’s influence is profound, acting as the scientific and technical backbone for the enforcement agencies that oversee the multi-billion-dollar pet food market.

The organization’s structure allows for "stakeholder" participation, drawing expertise and perspectives from a broad spectrum of interests. These stakeholders include pet food and animal feed manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, and, notably, consumer representatives. This participatory model aims to balance industry innovation with consumer protection, though the dynamics of these interactions are often complex and subject to intense debate, particularly on issues of transparency and ingredient quality.

AAFCO convenes two primary public meetings annually—one in January and one in August—to address pressing issues, ratify proposals, and disclose findings from ongoing working groups. Beyond these public forums, numerous private webinar meetings occur throughout the year, where specific committees delve into technical details and draft proposals. The outcomes of these extensive preliminary discussions are then brought before the wider body and made public during the semi-annual meetings. For instance, the "Pet Food Label Modernization" working group has held numerous such webinar meetings since the last public gathering in January, and their findings are anticipated to be a major highlight of the current Bellevue meeting.

Key Sessions: Shaping the Future of Pet Food

For pet owners and consumer advocates, two sessions stand out as particularly significant: the Ingredient Definitions Committee meeting and the Pet Food Committee meeting, both scheduled for Friday, August 11, 2017. These committees are at the forefront of establishing the lexicon and rules that govern what goes into pet food and how it is communicated to the consumer.

• The Ingredient Definitions Committee: Unveiling "High-Profile Ingredients"
  Scheduled for Friday, August 11, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM Pacific Time, the Ingredient Definitions Committee meeting is a critical forum for clarifying the components of pet food. The agenda item "5) Discussions: a) Status on high profile ingredients" has garnered significant attention. This segment is expected to shed light on ongoing deliberations concerning ingredients that may have faced public scrutiny, have novel applications, or require updated classifications. These could include discussions on the precise definitions and acceptable uses of various protein sources, by-products, rendered materials, or other components that impact both the nutritional integrity and consumer perception of pet food products. The committee’s work directly affects manufacturers’ ability to formulate products and consumers’ understanding of what they are feeding their pets.

  For years, consumer advocates have pushed for greater clarity regarding ingredient sourcing and quality. The term "high-profile ingredients" often refers to those components that frequently raise questions about their origin, processing, or nutritional value, such as meat meals, animal fats, or specific plant-based proteins. The committee’s decisions here could lead to new or revised definitions, potentially influencing product formulations and labeling claims across the industry. The public can view the meeting via WebEx (registration required at http://fass.webex.com) or listen via conference call (US TOLL 1-650-479-3207, Access code: 660 195 549#). The detailed agenda for this session is available at http://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Meetings/Annual/2017/Committee-Agendas/Ingredient_Definitions_Agenda_Annual_2017.pdf?v2.

• The Pet Food Committee: The Push for "Feed/Food Labeling Disclosure"
  Later on Friday, August 11, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM Pacific Time, the Pet Food Committee meeting is poised to host a potentially groundbreaking discussion on "feed/food labeling disclosure." This initiative, championed by consumer advocates like Susan Thixton and Mollie Morrissette, aims to introduce a mandatory label requirement distinguishing between ingredients that are "feed-grade" and those that are "food-grade" (i.e., fit for human consumption).

  The distinction between "feed-grade" and "food-grade" is a cornerstone of the ongoing debate about pet food quality and transparency. Currently, many pet food labels do not explicitly differentiate between ingredients processed under human food safety standards and those produced under less stringent animal feed regulations. This lack of clarity often leads to consumer confusion and concern regarding the actual quality and safety of ingredients. For example, some ingredients may originate from facilities that also produce human food but are diverted to pet food due to cosmetic imperfections or surplus, while others may come from rendering plants that process materials not deemed suitable for human consumption. Without a clear disclosure, consumers are left to infer or guess the quality standard of the ingredients.

  

  The original article indicates that the FDA has previously expressed "full support" for this labeling requirement during private meetings in June. Consumer advocates remain optimistic that the agency will publicly affirm this support during the AAFCO Pet Food Committee session. Such a public declaration from the FDA would lend significant weight to the proposal, potentially accelerating its integration into the "Pet Food Label Modernization" working group’s duties. The goal is for this working group, which includes advocates like Thixton and Morrissette, to draft a model bill that would mandate this "feed/food" distinction on future pet food labels.

  In a powerful demonstration of public demand, consumer signatures to a petition supporting this disclosure are slated to be presented to the committee during this session. The deadline for signing this petition was Tuesday, August 8, 2017, underscoring the urgency and broad base of support for this reform. The full request that FDA asked consumer advocates to submit on this labeling requirement can be viewed at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=FDA-2016-P-3578-0004 (click the PDF icon). The agenda for the Pet Food Committee meeting is accessible at http://www.aafco.org/Portals/0/SiteContent/Meetings/Annual/2017/Committee-Agendas/Pet_Food_Agenda_Annual_2017.pdf?v2. Public access to this session is available via WebEx (registration at http://fass.webex.com) or conference call (US TOLL 1-650-479-3207, Access code: 666 808 790 #).

The Broader Impact of Pet Food Label Modernization

The push for a "feed/food labeling disclosure" is an integral part of the larger "Pet Food Label Modernization" initiative. This comprehensive effort seeks to update and enhance all aspects of pet food labeling to provide consumers with clearer, more accurate, and more useful information. The existing labeling regulations, some of which date back decades, struggle to keep pace with innovations in pet nutrition, evolving consumer expectations, and the complexities of global ingredient sourcing.

If the "feed/food" disclosure is adopted and subsequently implemented into state law, its implications for the pet food industry would be substantial. Manufacturers might face increased pressure to source "food-grade" ingredients or clearly identify "feed-grade" components. This could lead to shifts in supply chains, potential increases in production costs for certain lines, and a greater emphasis on transparency in ingredient procurement. For companies already utilizing high-quality, human-grade ingredients, this disclosure could serve as a significant marketing advantage, allowing them to differentiate their products more effectively. Conversely, manufacturers relying heavily on feed-grade ingredients might need to reassess their messaging and potentially reformulate products to meet changing consumer demands.

For consumers, the benefits of such a disclosure would be profound. It would empower them to make more informed purchasing decisions aligned with their values regarding ingredient quality and sourcing. The ability to quickly ascertain whether ingredients meet human food standards would significantly enhance trust and provide a clearer understanding of what goes into their pets’ bowls. This transparency could also drive competition among pet food brands to offer higher-quality ingredients, ultimately benefiting animal health and welfare.

Challenges and the Path Forward

While the momentum for increased transparency is strong, implementing such a significant labeling change is not without its challenges. The industry may raise concerns about the practicalities of verification, the potential for increased regulatory burden, and the impact on manufacturing costs. Defining "food-grade" and "feed-grade" precisely within a regulatory framework, especially for complex ingredients, will require careful consideration to avoid ambiguity.

The AAFCO meeting serves as a crucial platform for these diverse stakeholders to engage in dialogue, present scientific data, and negotiate the path forward. The decisions made in Bellevue will not only influence the immediate future of pet food labels but also set precedents for how regulatory bodies respond to consumer demands for greater accountability and transparency in the animal feed industry.

Susan Thixton, a prominent Pet Food Safety Advocate and author of "Buyer Beware" and co-author of "Dinner PAWsible," along with her organizations TruthaboutPetFood.com and Association for Truth in Pet Food, has been at the forefront of this advocacy. Her direct involvement in the Pet Food Label Modernization working group underscores the critical role of dedicated consumer representatives in shaping these policies. The hope among advocates is that the open discussions at this AAFCO meeting will translate into concrete actions that prioritize pet health and consumer peace of mind.

For those unable to attend or listen in on the sessions, a comprehensive report of the meeting’s outcomes is promised a few days after its conclusion. The unfolding events at the AAFCO meeting represent a significant juncture in the ongoing evolution of pet food regulation, with potential far-reaching impacts on product quality, consumer trust, and industry practices across the United States.