Quick answer: find the nutritional adequacy statement on the package and check the species and life stage it names. The wording tells you whether the food’s nutritional adequacy is based on AAFCO nutrient profiles, AAFCO feeding procedures, or comparison with a tested product—or whether it is intended only for intermittent or supplemental feeding. It is a label claim, not an individual diet prescription or an AAFCO product endorsement.
Reviewed November 3, 2026. Method: this guide explains the statement formats described in AAFCO’s consumer label guidance and FDA’s “complete and balanced” overview. Label placement and state requirements can vary.
Where to look and what to record
Check the whole package, including the information panel and any nutrition facts box. AAFCO says the nutritional adequacy statement is often in small print on the back or side. Copy the full statement rather than relying on a front-of-package phrase. Record these details:
- Species: does it say dog or cat food?
- Purpose: does it say complete and balanced for a stated life stage, or “intermittent or supplemental feeding only”?
- Life stage: does it name growth, maintenance, gestation/lactation, or all life stages?
- Basis: is the claim tied to nutrient profiles, feeding tests, or comparison with a tested product?
Three common complete-and-balanced statement formats
AAFCO describes three formats. The exact product name and life stage appear in the full label wording; the short fragments below are excerpts from AAFCO’s examples.
| Wording to recognize | What the label says | What it does not tell you |
|---|---|---|
| “formulated to meet” AAFCO nutrient profiles | The manufacturer substantiates the claim by formulating the food to the applicable AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profile for the named life stage. | It is not a feeding trial of this product, and it does not say the food fits every individual animal. |
| “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures” | The claim is based on standardized feeding tests conducted under AAFCO procedures for the named life stage. | It does not establish a personal feeding amount or guarantee a particular outcome for an individual pet. |
| “comparable to a product” substantiated with AAFCO feeding tests | The food is claimed to be nutritionally comparable to a product substantiated through those tests. | It does not mean this exact product was itself the one used in the feeding test. |
These are different substantiation routes for a nutritional adequacy claim. AAFCO’s consumer guidance says it does not approve, certify, or endorse individual pet foods. The statement should be read together with the product identity, feeding directions, and the animal’s needs—not as a quality ranking.
Read the life-stage phrase carefully
AAFCO identifies growth (including puppies and kittens), adult maintenance, gestation/lactation, and all life stages. A statement for one stage does not automatically cover another. “All life stages” is a defined label claim, not a promise that one food or one portion is right for every dog or cat; AAFCO notes that feeding directions may differ among growth, maintenance, and gestation/lactation.
Use the directions on the same product label as a general starting point only. AAFCO says directions may need modification for an individual pet. For a feeding plan suited to age, body condition, activity, pregnancy or nursing, or a health concern, ask your veterinary team. Do not use this label guide to select a therapeutic diet or change a prescribed diet.
When the statement says intermittent or supplemental feeding
“This product is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only” means the product is not represented as a complete-and-balanced sole diet for ordinary continuous feeding. It may be a treat, topper, mixer, or another supplementary product. Treats and supplements can still show nutrient information, but that information alone does not make them a complete diet. Check the full wording and ask your veterinary team if you are unsure how a product fits into your pet’s diet.
Use the statement with the rest of the label
- Match the species and life stage to your animal.
- Check whether the label says complete and balanced or limits the product to intermittent or supplemental feeding.
- Read the feeding directions and calorie statement. Directions are not a personalized prescription.
- Ask your veterinary team about individual health needs, therapeutic diets, or unexpected weight change.
For label-based cost arithmetic, see the pet food budget guide and the dog food cost calculator, cat food cost calculator, or dry versus wet food cost calculator. Those tools use amounts you have already chosen; they do not assess nutritional adequacy or recommend portions.
Sources and limits
- AAFCO: Reading Labels — statement formats, life stages, treat/supplement context, feeding directions, and label-reading guidance.
- AAFCO: Frequently Asked Questions — explains that AAFCO does not approve pet food products and directs consumers to the label statement.
- FDA: “Complete and Balanced” Pet Food — explains nutritional adequacy statements and the AAFCO nutrient-profile and feeding-trial bases.
This U.S.-oriented guide interprets label language; it does not verify a product, assess its quality, recommend a diet, or replace veterinary advice. State labeling rules and package formats can vary. Confirm the full claim with the manufacturer and discuss your pet’s individual nutrition with a veterinary professional.