Q: I noticed that some of the nutrients listed in the Guaranteed Analysis panel on the label of my cat’s food have an asterisk that leads to the following statement: “Not Recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles.” If it’s not recognized as an essential nutrient, why would the manufacturer add it? The nutrients are not named in big letters on the front of the package as a marketing point.
Helmut Fitz
Middle Village, New York
Dear Mr. Fitz,
A: If an ingredient is not listed as an essential nutrient, that does not necessarily mean there’s absolutely no science to suggest it might have a particular health benefit. It just signifies that AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials) does not deem the science behind it as robust as for required nutrients. (In some instances, the science may be sorely lacking.)
Note that in certain cases, the manufacturer does tout the presence of the ingredient in big letters on the front. That means there’s clearly a marketing strategy in adding the substance.
Either way, don’t let the presence of ingredients “not recognized as essential” guide your decision about which food to purchase for your pet. If the Statement of Nutritional Adequacy says the food meets the nutritional levels established by AAFCO (or better yet, has been through feeding trials with cats which substantiate that it provides complete and balanced nutrition), you’re good to go. Just make sure the product is right for your cat’s stage of life: gestation/lactation, growth, maintenance (healthy adult cats), or “all life stages.”
