The European Pet Food Industry Federation has released new Nutritional Guidelines for cat and dog food at the 22nd European Society of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition (ESVCN) Congress in Munich.
Speaking to roughly 100 veterinarians, scientists, nutrition experts and students, Dr Thomas Brenten, chair of the FEDIAF Nutrition and Analytical Science Working Group said cat and dog food had become “a science-based tool box”.
He said one of the federation’s main objectives was to safeguard the wellbeing of pets by “providing well balanced and nutritionally sound pet food through its member companies” and it had worked with a Scientific Advisory Board to advise on the new guidelines.
The Scientific Advisory Board ensures the scientific standards of the recommended nutrient levels are maintained and advised FEDIAF so the latest research results would transferred into current feeding practice.
Brenten said: “One of FEDIAF’s main objectives is to safeguard the wellbeing of pets by providing well balanced and nutritionally sound pet food through its member companies.That is why FEDIAF has taken up the task of regularly adapting the recommendations for nutrient levels in pet food in close cooperation with independent scientists.
“This enables the pet food industry to adjust the nutritional quality of complete diets for dogs and cats based on state-of-the-art scientific knowledge.”
The “Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs” can be downloaded for free at the FEDIAF website: www.fediaf.org/self-regulation/nutrition.html.
