AAFCO guaranteed analysis

AAFCO 2024 Model Regulation PF5 requires a "Pet Nutrition Facts" box on the label of all pet foods, containing the ordered nutrient guarantees: minimum percentage of crude protein; minimum percentage of crude fat (a maximum fat guarantee is added when required by Regulation PF9); "Total Carbohydrate" as a calculated maximum [100 − (crude protein + crude fat + moisture + ash)]; maximum percentage of dietary fiber (indented as a component of total carbohydrate); maximum percentage of moisture; and, when ash is listed, a maximum ash guarantee immediately following moisture — with any additional guarantees following in the order and units of the AAFCO nutrient profiles, and guarantees for substances not recognized by the profiles asterisked with the disclaimer "*not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog [or Cat] Food Nutrient Profiles". Separately, PF3(g) caps declared moisture: unless a product is identified on the principal display panel as a stew, gravy, sauce, broth, aspic, juice, milk replacer or similar, the maximum moisture declared shall not exceed 78.00% or the natural moisture content of the ingredients, whichever is higher. The guarantees are just that — guarantees, not measured typical values — so dry-matter conversion is still needed for accurate cross-product comparison.