You’ve heard of pet food label modernization (PLFM) — and if you haven’t yet, check out our previous episode with Austin Therrell, executive director of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) — but what about the challenges pet food processors will face as the industry implements these changes?

Updated Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food within the 2024 AAFCO Official Publication will include new standards for nutrition information, ingredient statements, and storage and handling instructions. However, it’s up to each individual state to adopt these new guidelines, and not all states have confirmed they will.

“We’ve spent a lot of time and resources in working to put together what we believe… [to be] the best label for consumers, and when we make these changes as an industry, we need all states to adopt it,” said Dana Brooks, president and chief executive officer of the Pet Food Institute (PFI).

In this latest episode of More Than Kibble, Brooks shares how PFI, which represents the US pet food companies that make 90% of the pet food available on shelves today, will support its members and the industry at large through the implementation of PFLM. She also touches on expected challenges, and one way the regulatory landscape for pet food could be streamlined in the future.

Show notes

(00:57) Introducing Dana Brooks

(01:30) More about the Pet Food Institute

(02:38) Behind the scenes of Pet Week on Capitol Hill

(06:20) How PFLM will benefit pets and consumers

(09:36) Stumbling blocks for the future of label regulation

(13:59) Exploring potential avenues for streamlining label regulation

(17:44) Staying tuned for new developments

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