The ingredients declaration on pet food packaging varies according to legislation in place within a country. In Europe, ingredients can be grouped together under a category term. For example, many minerals can be included under the additives category rather than naming them individually, and ingredients sourced from animals can be included under the group term meat and animal derivatives (Table 1).
| TABLE 1: Ingredient categories within Europe - defined by EU Commission Directive 98/67/EC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Term | Definition | Example Ingredients |
| Meat & animal derivatives | All the fleshy parts of slaughtered warm-blooded land animals fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment and all products or derivatives of the processing of the carcass or parts of the carcase of warm-blooded land animals | Pork, beef, lamb muscle meat, organs such as lung, heart, kidney, liver, chicken muscle meat, carcass, chicken necks, heads, feet, chicken meal, poultry by-product meal |
| Milk & milk derivatives | All milk products fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment, and derivatives from the processing thereof | Whole semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, milk solids, curds, whey, milk powder, casein, caseinate, milk protein, hydrolyzed milk protein, yoghurt |
| Eggs & egg derivatives | All egg products fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment and derivatives from the processing thereof | Whole egg, dried egg, frozen egg, egg yolk, egg white, albumin, egg powder, globulin |
| Oils & fats | All animal and vegetable oils and fats | Sunflower oil, pork fat |
| Yeasts | Covers Brewers yeast, yeast cultures, nutritional yeast | Brewers yeast |
| Fish & fish derivatives | Fish or parts of fish, fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment, and derivatives from the processing thereof | Fish heads, frames (bones and flesh scraps), tails, associated flesh, whole eviscerated fish or part fish |
| Cereals | All types of cereal regardless of their presentation or products made from the starchy endosperm | Wheat flour, whole maize, rice |
| Vegetables | All types of vegetable and legumes, fresh or preserved by appropriate treatment | Diced frozen carrots, whole frozen peas |
| Derivatives of vegetables origin | Derivatives resulting from the treatment of vegetable products, in particular cereals, vegetables, legumes and oil seeds | Sugar beet pulp, cellulose |
| Vegetable protein extracts | All products of vegetable origin in which proteins have been concentrated by an adequate process to contain at least 50% crude protein, as related to the dry matter, and which may be restructured (textured) | Wheat gluten or pea protein |
| Minerals | All inorganic substances suitable for animal feed | Calcium phosphate, zinc sulphate, magnesium oxide, iodine, sodium chloride, calcium carbonate, manganese sulphate |
| Various sugars | All types of sugar | Sucrose, fructose, glucose, honey |
| Additives | Substances, micro-organisms or preparations, other than feed material and pre-mixtures, which are intentionally added in order to perform a particular functions; Additives covers vitamins, flavours, preservatives, antioxidants and colours. The majority of additives used in pet food are also used in human food and are included for a purpose either to deliver a nutritional benefit, to preserve ingredients or to create a certain texture. | Vitamin A, vitamin E, preservatives BHA / BHT |
Alternatively, a European pet food manufacturer may choose to provide a full ingredients list. Since labelling legislation varies from country to country, pet food manufacturers may be required to list all ingredients. For example, in the USA a pet food manufacturer must list all ingredients used providing information about any process used to make the ingredients and the chemical names where appropriate (for example, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6). A glossary of commonly used ingredients in the EU is provided in Table 2.
| TABLE 2b: Glossary of common ingredients used to make dry pet food in Europe | ||
|---|---|---|
| Group | Ingredient | Description and Use |
| Meat and Animal Derivatives | ||
| Meat and animal derivatives | Chicken Meal | Chicken parts, may include muscle meat, carcass, necks, intestine, heads, feet. Parts are dried and fat removed creating a meal, provides a highly digestible source of protein, amino acids, fats, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. |
| Meat and animal derivatives | Poultry Meal / Poultry by-product meal | Poultry parts from chicken, goose, duck or turkey; may include muscle meat, carcass, intestine, heads, feet; dried with fat removed creating a meal, provides a highly digestible source of protein, amino acids, fats, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. |
| Meat and animal derivatives | Pork meal / bone meal | Can include muscle meat, organs such as heart, lung, liver, may contain bone, dried with much of the fat removed creating a meal. A highly digestible source of protein, amino acids, fats, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. |
| Meat and animal derivatives | Beef meal / bone meal | Can include muscle meat, organs such as heart, lung, liver, may contain bone, dried with much of the fat removed creating a meal. A highly digestible source of protein, amino acids, fats, fat-soluble vitamins and minerals. |
| Meat and animal derivatives | Hydrolysed feather meal | Partially digested (hydrolysed) feathers from chicken, goose, duck or turkey; highly digestible source of protein and essential amino acids |
| Cereals and Grains | ||
| Cereals | Maize / Corn | Usually finely ground prior to use provides carbohydrate primarily as starch and fibre, starch is readily digested and provides energy, fibre contributes to digestive health. |
| Cereals | Maize flour | Milled maize, provides carbohydrate primarily as starch and fibre, starch is readily digested and provides energy, fibre contributes to digestive health. Nutritionally no different to whole maize but flour produces a finer texture |
| Cereals | Wheat | Usually finely ground, provides carbohydrate primarily as starch and fibre, starch is readily digested and provides energy, fibre contributes to digestive health |
| Cereals | Wheat flour | Milled as it is for human food, provides carbohydrate primarily as starch and fibre, starch is readily digested and provides energy, fibre contributes to digestive health. |
| Cereals | Flax seed | Seeds from the flax plant, also known as linseed; a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids |
| Grains | Rice - can be broken or whole grain. | Provide a highly digestible source of nutrients including carbohydrates, protein and dietary fibre |
| Grains | Rice flour | Flour produced from rice milling, provides a highly digestible source of nutrients including carbohydrates, protein and dietary fibre. Nutritionally similar to whole rice. |
| Vegetable protein extracts | ||
| Vegetable protein extracts | Maize / corn gluten meal | Extracted high protein fraction of maize / corn once starch has been removed, an excellent source of digestible protein and essential amino acids |
| Vegetable protein extracts | Wheat gluten meal | Extracted high protein fraction of wheat once starch has been removed, an excellent source of digestible protein and essential amino acids |
| Vegetable derivatives | ||
| Vegetable derivatives | Sugar beet pulp | A by-product from production of sugar, derived from sugar beet, provides a source of dietary fibre and support gut health. It is a good source of both moderately fermentable and non-fermentable fibre and can therefore improve general digestive function as well as benefiting stool quality. |
| Vegetable derivatives | Kelp | Dried seaweed powder; natural source of iodine |
| Vegetable derivatives | Chicory extract | An extract from the root of the chicory plant containing inulin which acts as a prebiotic promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut |
| Vegetable derivatives | Yucca extract | An extract from the Yucca plant that can help to reduce odiferous flatulence |
| Vegetable derivatives | Cellulose | A concentrated fibre source, included to support digestive health |
| Oils and Fats | ||
| Oils and fats | Fish oil | Provides omega 3 fatty acids, which can have anti-inflammatory properties and are essential for healthy growth. |
| Oils and fats | Sun flower oil | Provides a source of dietary energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins |
| Oils and fats | Coconut oil | Provides a source of dietary energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins |
| Oils and fats | Chicken fat | Fat from chicken usually obtained during preparation of chicken meal, provides a source of dietary energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins |
| Oils and fats | Poultry fat | Source can be chicken, turkey, duck, goose or quail usually obtained during preparation of poultry meal, provides a source of dietary energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins |
| Oils and fats | Pork fat | Usually obtained during preparation of pork meal, provides a source of dietary energy, essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins |
| Preservatives | ||
| Additives | BHA | Butylated hydroxyanisole; a synthetic antioxidant preservative used to help prevent food spoilage. Usually used alongside BHT |
| Additives | BHT | Butylated hydroxytoluene, a synthetic antioxidant preservative that helps prevent food spoilage. Usually used alongside BHA |
| Additives | Propylene gallate | A synthetic antioxidant preservative that helps prevent food spoilage |
| Additives | Potassium sorbate | Commonly used as a food preservative to inhibit mould and yeast formation, also used in human food such as yoghurt, cheese and wine. |
| Additives | Vitamin C - ascorbate | A natural antioxidant preservative, usually used alongside Vitamin E. Less effective than synthetic preservatives resulting in a shorter shelf-life |
| Additives | Vitamin E - tocopherol | A natural antioxidant preservative when sprayed on the outside of dry food, usually used alongside Vitamin C. Less effective than synthetic preservatives resulting in a shorter shelf-life |
| Additives | Sodium hydroxide | Used as an acidity regulator and in the production of caramel colour. Also used for human food in soft drinks and ice-cream |
| Additives | L-Cysteine Hydrochloride | A sulphur amino acid often used as flavour enhancer in pet food. Cysteine is also an essential amino acid that works in synergy with methionine for healthy skin and coat. |
| Amino Acids | ||
| Additives | Methionine | A sulphur amino acid (a building block of protein) which works in synergy with cysteine, important for skin and coat health particularly important for healthy hair growth. Maintenance of healthy skin and hair can use up to 30% of an adult dog's daily protein requirement. |
| Additives | Taurine | An essential amino acid required by cats, may also be beneficial for large breed dogs. In pet food manufacturing taurine is registered as a vitamin. |
| Vitamins | ||
Table 2a – Glossary of common ingredients used to make wet pet food in Europe
Details in Excel spreadsheet (Sheet 1)
Table 2b – Glossary of common ingredients used to make dry food in Europe
Details in Excel spreadsheet (Sheet 2)