Why Choose Food Research Lab's FRL as Your Food Product Development (FPD) Consultant and Partner?

There are several options in almost every product area in today’s market, and the difficulty is in coming up with unique items that stand out and connect with customers. Food Research Lab's Food Research Lab (FRL) takes a holistic approach to creating food and beverage products. We define, demographically target, and build effective goods through a sequential process for category selection and comprehension. The client can visit the lab to learn the process. We offer unlimited rounds of revisions to ensure customer satisfaction. The final product prototype, along with the documentation process, including the video (through email), will be shipped to the client, and in case the client is not satisfied with the video, a food technology consultant will visit the place for the product demo at the client’s costs.

What are the different forms that you deliver the Food Product Formulations?

The food industry is witnessing a new form of consumption. Keeping that in mind, we can formulate the products in the form of ready-to-eat, ready-to-drink, ready-to-mix, ready-to-serve, and ready-to-cook food products. We use ingredients that offer an added value to the development and improve its indulgence and sustainability in terms of its functional ingredients, plant-based food dyes, and natural preservatives with a clean label.

What are the sectors Food Research Lab cover?

We cover a wide range of sectors such as soups, sauces and dips, chips, tortillas, dry beverage powder, plant-based products, masalas, puddings, instant mixes and many more.

How is sensory testing been carried out?

Our sensory examination leads to the precise formulation and recipe recommendations. We develop data-driven design models based on sensory research and customer insights. The fact-based design methodology used by Food Research Lab reduces risk and gives our clients market confidence while cutting development time in half. With our dedicated sensory lab facility, our team takes satisfaction in creating and optimizing successful products in the marketplace, generating a favourable return on investment, and developing brand advocates.

To effectively use the formulation method in pet food production, it’s essential to understand the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profiles established for dogs and cats. These profiles, developed with input from the National Research Council (NRC) and other nutritional research, set the baseline nutrient requirements for different life stages, ensuring pet foods provide essential nutrition using commonly available ingredients.

AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for Dog and Cat Food: Understanding the Formulation Method

Interesting News . Nov 21, 2024

To effectively use the formulation method in pet food production, it’s essential to understand the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutrient profiles established for dogs and cats. These profiles, developed with input from the National Research Council (NRC) and other nutritional research, set the baseline nutrient requirements for different life stages, ensuring pet foods provide essential nutrition using commonly available ingredients.

Background of AAFCO Nutrient Profiles

Prior to the 1980s, pet food nutrient minimums were based on NRC recommendations, often derived from studies using purified diets designed to meet basic physiological needs. However, these guidelines weren’t entirely practical for commercial pet food, as they lacked considerations for ingredient bioavailability and the variability of nutrients in commonly used ingredients. Recognizing this gap, AAFCO established the Canine Nutrition Expert (CNE) Subcommittee and the Feline Nutrition Expert (FNE) Subcommittee in 1990 and 1991, respectively, to develop practical nutrient profiles based on real-world ingredients.

Development of AAFCO Nutrient Profiles

The CNE and FNE Subcommittees developed two distinct nutrient profiles for each species (dogs and cats):

Growth and Reproduction Profile – Targets nutrient needs for puppies, kittens, pregnant, and lactating animals, which require higher levels of certain nutrients for development and reproductive health.
Adult Maintenance Profile – Focuses on meeting the nutrient needs of adult animals, with lower minimums for some nutrients, as adult dogs and cats typically have lower nutrient demands than younger or reproducing animals.

These profiles incorporate “safety factors” to account for variations in ingredient quality and bioavailability, providing a more accurate basis for formulating commercial pet foods. The nutrient minimums include both essential vitamins and minerals, as well as macronutrient levels appropriate for common pet food ingredients.

Maximum Nutrient Levels for Safety

In addition to minimum nutrient requirements, AAFCO profiles include maximum limits for certain nutrients to prevent toxicity. Key maximum levels include:

These maximum values are based on data showing potential health risks associated with excessive intake of certain nutrients. This careful balance ensures that pet foods formulated to meet AAFCO profiles provide safe and adequate nutrition across life stages.

Role of AAFCO Profiles in the Formulation Method

The formulation method relies on these AAFCO profiles to validate that a pet food product provides balanced nutrition. By meeting AAFCO’s nutrient profiles, manufacturers can substantiate their nutritional adequacy claims without requiring feeding trials, as long as they demonstrate that each nutrient in the formulation aligns with the established minimum (and where relevant, maximum) levels. .

Ongoing Review and Updates

AAFCO continually reviews its nutrient profiles to reflect the latest research and advances in pet nutrition. Following the release of updated NRC guidelines in 2006, the AAFCO CNE and FNE Subcommittees began assessing potential revisions to ensure that the profiles remain aligned with scientific findings. .

Summary of AAFCO Nutrient Profiles

Profile	Purpose	Nutrients with Maximums (Dogs)	Nutrients with Maximums (Cats)
Growth and Reproduction	Supports young and reproducing animals with higher nutrient needs.	Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, fat-soluble vitamins, trace minerals	Methionine, zinc, vitamins A and D
Adult Maintenance	Designed for adult animals with lower nutrient demands.	Same as above, but with lower minimums for adult needs	Same as above, adjusted for adult requirements

Explore AAFCO-Compliant Nutrient Profiling with Food Research Lab’s Pet Food Formulation Services to ensure your products meet the latest standards for balanced and safe pet nutrition across life stages.