Brussels, 11 September 2024: FEDIAF EuropeanPetFood, the voice of the European Pet Food Industry, is pleased to unveil the updated 2024 Nutritional Guidelines for Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. This comprehensive document details essential information on the recommended nutrient levels for cat and dog food, according to their life stage, health status, and activity levels.
Meticulously peer-reviewed by FEDIAF’s Nutrition Working Group and Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), which consists of independent nutrition scientists in academia and private consulting from European countries, these guidelines are the primary reference for pet nutrition in Europe, trusted by EU authorities, consumer organizations, professionals, and pet owners alike.
Alice Tempel Costa, FEDIAF Deputy Secretary-General, highlighted their importance: “These guidelines are the go-to, essential resource for manufacturers committed to producing safe, nutritious, and palatable food for pets. They incorporate the National Research Council (NRC) data and latest scientific research, serving as a practical guide for developing both complete and complementary pet food recipes. The document also includes a useful glossary, ingredient explanations, detail on energy requirements and annexes on body condition scores, in addition to a summary of the risks of certain human foods for pets.”
The 2024 edition, developed through the collaborative work of FEDIAF’s Nutrition Working Group and Scientific Advisory Board, incorporates updates aligned with the latest research. Notable revisions include guidance on balancing high fat and protein levels in dog food and adjustments to the footnote on inorganic phosphorus for cats incorporating new scientific publications related to this topic.
Dr. Lisa Conboy-Schmidt, Chair of FEDIAF’s Nutrition Working Group, explained, “Our rigorous review of recent scientific literature has enabled us to fine-tune the guidelines, ensuring they lead the way in providing the best guidance for pet food manufacturers and the wider industry. We are extremely grateful for the support from the independent and renowned Scientific Advisory Board.”
The full version of the “Nutritional Guidelines: For Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs” is now available on the FEDIAF website.
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For more information, visit www.fediaf.org.
