The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Proficiency Testing (PT) Program announced a study to develop a Quality Reference Material (QRM) for dietary fiber in pet food. The study will provide laboratories with a characterized pet food reference material to support dietary fiber method validation and implementation.
With the passage of the Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) initiative, laboratories need capabilities to analyze pet food for the newly required analyte. While validated methods exist for dietary starch and sugars, dietary fiber presents additional challenges since most existing fiber methods were designed for human food matrices. The AAFCO Laboratory Methods and Services Committee (LMSC), in collaboration with the Dietary Fiber Workgroup, is leading the study to produce a pet food QRM.
The PT Program will purchase and prepare dry dog food kibble, processed and packaged under standard PT procedures. Each participating laboratory will receive a sample to analyze for dietary fiber using their routine methods. Analyses will be performed in duplicate upon receipt, at 30 days, and at 60 days—for a total of six results per laboratory.
AAFCO will provide the controls and enzymes for the study along with the pet food QRM. Participating laboratories will report results for dietary fiber using the Data Reporting Website (DRW).
Participating laboratories will receive access to a standardized QRM tailored to pet food and participation in an interlaboratory study designed to strengthen dietary fiber method validation. Each participating laboratory will receive an additional QRM sample for in-house use. Results will be statistically analyzed using the same methodology as AAFCO's regular PT schemes, and each laboratory will receive a report card based on the analysis.
Sample preparation and shipment are scheduled for February 16, with final results due 60 days after receipt of samples.
Participation in the study costs $50 per laboratory. The study is open to any laboratory performing dietary fiber analyses.
To participate, laboratories should enroll in the Dietary Fiber QRM Project through the AAFCO PT Program webpage using their Dashboard login and password. Laboratories not currently enrolled in an AAFCO PT Program Scheme will need to create a new account.
Enrollment is open and will close on Friday, February 6 at 11:59 p.m. CST.
