What’s in a name?

Common Terms
Labels on human foods can certainly be confusing when it comes to a lot of these terms. Pet food is no different. Light, lite, and low-calorie. Regulations require that these be nutritionally significant and the reduction must also be significant compared to similar products that are not carrying these labels. And there need to be a clear directions that will result in fewer calories when ingested, meaning, they can’t just say there are three servings instead of two and treat it like it’s lower calorie because our cat is eating less of the product. Less, reduced calorie. Both of these claims must stand true when compared to other, similar products, not just when compared to similar products in the same line of food products by the same company. So, if a line of ‘decadent cat food’ lists a reduced calorie version of their decadent line, it can’t just be lower calories than the their ‘decadent line.’ It must also be low calorie compared to other, similar foods on the market. Lean, low-fat. The fat content in products with this label have a regulated level that needs to be met. They have to be below a certain level of fat, per regulations. And they still have to include a maximum crude fat percentage in the guaranteed analysis section so the product maintains its nutritional value. Less, reduced-fat. Both of these terms mean, again, that the fat content must hold true when it’s compared to other products on the market. They can’t just be less than an ‘original’ recipe the company offers. And it still needs to meet the nutritional regulations by meeting the maximum crude fat percentage in the guaranteed analysis section.
Additives

