CHAMPAIGN, ILL. — The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is seeking public comment through March 1 on a proposed “controlled copper” claim for dog food. The proposed claim includes a maximum of 15 mg copper per kg DM and a maximum of 3.75 mg copper per 100 kcal of metabolizable energy for dog food formulas designed for one or more life stages.
An 11-person Workgroup was formed to identify the need to reconsider AAFCO’s copper guidelines. Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. The original copper regulation described a “low copper” claim, which could indicate to consumers that the food contained copper levels below minimum requirements, according to the Workgroup. To avoid confusion, the group proposed a revision to the claim on “low copper” and similar wording in favor of “controlled copper.”
Ultimately, the Workgroup voted 6-4 in favor of the proposed claim, and the final report was forwarded to AAFCO’s Pet Food Committee (PFC) to determine if the claim was appropriate.
“By a small majority, the Workgroup recommended the PFC establish a regulation for a ‘controlled copper’ claim on dog foods…” the report states. “It is within AAFCO’s mission to provide clarity to consumers, promote consistency in the marketplace, and support animal health, all of which this regulation accomplishes.”
Both the Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) submitted statements for the Workgroup’s discussion, both expressing concern and opposition to the proposal.
“In the interest of pet health, consumer confidence and regulatory integrity, PFI cannot support the creation of specific nutrient claims for a disease for which there is no evidence-based science,” PFI said. “We support the majority opinion of the AAFCO expert panel which stated that ‘no maximum amount of copper should be set for complete diets for dogs until objective scientific data are available to establish such a maximum. ‘”
AFIA added, “The creation of a marketing claim authorized by AAFCO about copper content in dog food based on an arbitrary value (as confirmed by Dr. Bill Burkholder) of 15 mg Cu/kg dry matter to meet consumer demands rather than animal health is bad. -advised.”
Copper in dog food has come into the spotlight recently due to a discussion within the veterinary community regarding the purported link between copper levels and the development of copper-associated hepatopathy (CAH), a type of liver disease. , in dogs. According to BSM Partners, as well as the four members of the Workgroup who voted against the proposal, the “controlled copper” claim is not supported by sufficient scientific evidence, and more research is needed.
“Nutrition guidelines that are important to the health of pets should only be developed based on thorough research and unbiased expert reviews,” wrote Stephanie Clark, Ph.D., Sydney McCauley, Ph.D., and Bradley Quest, DVM, of BSM Partners. “As leaders in the industry, fostering an environment where decisions are informed by comprehensive, rigorous research and ensuring that the welfare of pets remains a priority.”
According to the Workgroup’s final report, members who voted in opposition argued that the claim would be “false and misleading,” as there is currently no evidence that the proposed 15 mg copper per kg DM would be beneficial in dogs. have a predisposition or have been diagnosed with CAH. Additionally, they are also concerned that the claim could lead to nutrient imbalances as manufacturers target the new range for copper in finished products.
“There are very strong opinions on both sides of this issue,” wrote Karen L. Donnelly, DVM, chair of the Copper Claim Workgroup and veterinary medical officer at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), in the final report. “All Workgroup members agree that more research is needed on the effects of dietary copper on the health of dogs, but in the meantime, the PFC needs to decide whether the proposed regulation is an appropriate and acceptable step toward addressing the issue.”
Read the full report here.
Stay up to date with latest pet food processing industry heads on our News page.
