Under the Pure Pet Food Act of 1969 (HSC Chapter 10), a "pet food ingredient or processed pet food shall be deemed to be misbranded" on several grounds (§113095). It is misbranded "(a) If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular." "(b) If its container is so made, formed or filled as to be misleading." and "(c) If in package form, unless it bears a label containing (1) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (2) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure or numerical count" (§113095).
A multi-ingredient pet food must declare its ingredients: "A pet food shall be deemed to be misbranded if it is not subject to Section 113105, unless its label bears (a) the common or usual name of the food, if any there be, and (b) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each ingredient listed in descending order of predominance in the product" (§113100). Spices, flavorings, and colorings "may be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings, without naming each" (§113100, §113105).
Where a standard of identity has been set, "A processed pet food shall be deemed to be misbranded if it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity has been prescribed by regulations as provided by Section 113115 unless (a) it conforms to the definition and standard, and (b) its label bears the name of the processed pet food specified in the definition and standard" (§113105).
Two further labeling triggers apply (§113110): a food "represented for special dietary uses" is misbranded "(a) If it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the department determines to be, and by regulations prescribes as, necessary in order fully to inform purchasers as to its value for those uses." And "(b) If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact" (§113110).