The statement on a feed package indicating whether the feed meets nutritional requirements from a feed trial using AAFCO nutrient profiles for the life stage indicated is the nutritional statement.

Nutritional adequacy or purpose.

Explanation: The "AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy or purpose" also called a "nutrition claim" is a statement that indicates the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or if the food does not meet the complete and balanced requirements than it is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Under AAFCO regulations, this statement must be substantiated by the state and the pet food manufacturer.

The "complete and balanced" claim may be met in any of three ways:

Formulation: If a pet food has been formulated to contain every nutrient the pet needs as specified in the AAFCO Dog Food (or Cat Food) Nutrient Profiles, which are based on the nutritional recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC) for dogs and cats. While the AAFCO Nutrient Profiles list the "minimum" levels (and some maximum levels), pet food manufacturers can formulate and market their products for a specific life stage, provided the nutritional profile of the pet food still meets the levels specified in the appropriate AAFCO Nutrient Profile.

Feeding Trial: If a pet food undergoes an animal feeding trial using AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Feeding Protocols. The AAFCO Protocols mandate factors such as the length of the trial and the diagnostic tests which determine if the feeding trial was successful. This "protocol testing" also requires that the food be fed during the period — often gestation, lactation and growth — for which the claim is made.

Product Family Establishment: If the lead product member of a pet food passes a feeding trial using the AAFCO Protocols and is deemed nutritionally similar to the lead product by meeting specific nutrient and calorie criteria. In essence this method combines the formulation and feeding trial methods for determining nutritional adequacy.

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