AAFCO Ch6 fish oil

AAFCO Ch6 definition 51.8 Fish Oil is the oil from rendering whole fish or cannery waste (Proposed 1963, Adopted 1964; IFN 7-01-965); menhaden oil is separately listed as the oil extracted from whole menhaden (IFN 7-08-049). The AAFCO definition sets no moisture, impurity or iodine-value specifications — such figures come from supplier specifications. Fish oil is the primary omega-3 source in pet food, supplying EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid); typical sources include menhaden, salmon, sardine and anchovy oils, with EPA+DHA content varying by source (fish body oils typically around a quarter to a third total omega-3, while fish liver oils such as cod liver oil also carry substantial vitamins A and D). Fish oil is highly oxidation-prone, so antioxidant preservation (mixed tocopherols, rosemary extract, or synthetic antioxidants declared as "used as a preservative" per AAFCO 33.1) is standard practice; rancidity both destroys omega-3 efficacy and causes digestive upset.