David A. Dzanis, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN.Dr. Dzanis is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist and CEO of Regulatory Discretion Inc. He is also the author of Petfood Industry magazine's monthly column, "Petfood Insights."From the Author - Page 7Pet Food SafetyIt’s time to renew your food facility registration!With minor exceptions, if you are a petfood, treat, chew or nutritional supplement manufacturer, domestic or foreign, now is the time to renew your food facility registration with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Pet Food RegulationsGrain-free, gluten-free: ensuring your petfood claims stand up to scrutinyNo observer of the petfood market can miss the pervasiveness of claims such as "grain-free" and "gluten-free" on dog and cat food labels today. There are important factors to consider when making a claim in order for it to survive possible regulatory scrutiny.NutritionAAFCO annual meeting highlights petfood industry issuesThe Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) held its annual meeting on July 24–26, 2014, in Sacramento, California, USA. As always, several controversial issues kept the discussions lively.Pet Food SafetyUpdate on chicken jerky treatsThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided updated information on the continuing saga of suspected contamination of "jerky"-type dog treats, primarily made from chicken and typically manufactured in China. Coincidentally, at least two major pet retailers have recently announced their commitments to stop selling pet treats manufactured in China.Pet Food RegulationsFDA’s war on Salmonella: Beyond petfoodsThe noteworthy number of recalls of petfoods over the past few years speaks to the seriousness to which FDA views this matter. As further evidence of FDA’s commitment to the fight against this microorganism and its potential for exposure to people, it also regulates other potential sources of Salmonella in pet products as well as the pets themselves.NutritionDog food logicThose who know me are aware that I am rarely inclined toward the use of superlatives. On this occasion, however, I will definitively opine that Dog Food Logic: Making Smart Decisions for Your Dog in an Age of Too Many Choices by Linda P. Case, MS (Dogwise Publishing, 2014) is the most compelling book I have ever read on the subject.Pet Food IngredientsAAFCO ponders maximum calcium levels in dog foodHow much calcium is too much in dog foods? In 2007, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) convened a panel of experts from academia and industry to, in part, make recommendations for revision of the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. These profiles, which were last revised in 1995, serve as one means by which the nutritional adequacy of dog and cat foods can be substantiated in the US.Pet Food RegulationsAAFCO meets to vote on latest petfood, animal feed topicsThe Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) held its "mid-year" meeting on January 8-10, 2014, in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. While the city (along with much of the rest of the country) was experiencing unusually cold weather at that time, temperatures in the meeting room were kept elevated by heated discussion over several controversial items.NutritionRaw petfood makes the newsThe feeding of raw petfood has been a controversy for decades. Both sides of the discussion have their extremist factions, with some believing it is the ultimately healthful means of feeding dogs and cats and others convinced it constitutes a wholly unwarranted risk to the health of both pets and the people feeding them.Pet Food RegulationsFood Safety Modernization Act updateIn October, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed new regulations to implement aspects of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) for animal feeds (including petfoods), similar to those proposed for foods for human consumption earlier this year. The law, enacted in 2011, addresses sweeping changes to regulation of food for both man and other animals, including the establishment of preventive controls, improved inspection and response capabilities, improved oversight of imports, and enhanced partnerships with domestic and international regulatory bodies.Pet Food RegulationsAAFCO Official Publication goes onlineAny petfood manufacturer distributing product in the US needs to be familiar with the contents of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication (OP) to formulate and label products to be in compliance with the regulations of most states. As mentioned in my October Petfood Industry column, an online version of the OP is now available.Pet Food RegulationsFDA offers guidance on food and color additives in petfoodsIn September, the agency published two guidance documents (one proposed, one final) regarding additives for use in animal feed, including petfood. The subject matter that is covered by these documents is not particularly new; however, the guidance they offer to the petfood industry is very helpful.Previous PagePage 7 of 15Next Page