Last Updated: 03/02/2026
How to Read Pet Food Labels: A Vet Guide
Pet food labels can be confusing. Check out this guide to help decipher what all those ingredients mean in terms of health and nutrition for your pet.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 8 minutes - short read
While the packaging of pet food often looks delicious enough for a human dinner, the real story of what’s inside is hidden in the fine print on the back. Understanding how to decode those labels is one of the most powerful ways to support your pet's long-term health. By looking past the marketing and into the ingredient list, you can ensure your dog or cat is getting the high-quality protein and balanced nutrients they need to stay wagging and purring for years to come.
Understanding the meaning of product names
Ever wondered why one bag says "Beef Dog Food" while another says "Beef Dinner"? These names aren't just marketing - they are governed by strict rules to ensure you aren't misled. AAFCO is the Association for the American Food Control Officials, which sets out guidelines for pet food, to which most pet food manufacturers adhere.Here is how to decode what the name actually means for your pet's bowl.
The 100% rule
This is reserved almost exclusively for treats (like "All-Beef Jerky"). Aside from water used in processing and tiny amounts of preservatives, the product must be entirely the named ingredient.
The 95% rule
If a label says "Beef Dog Food" or "Chicken and Rice Cat Food," the named ingredients must account for 95% of the product (excluding water). When two ingredients are named, the first one listed must be higher in quantity, and both must total 95%. With the water considered in the calculations, the named ingredients (combined) must make up at least 70% of the product.
The 25% rule (The "Dinner" rule)
Look for words like "Dinner," "Entrée," or "Platter." These only require the named ingredient/s to make up at least 25% of the product (excluding water, or at least 10% including water). If there is more than one ingredient named, each must make up no less than 3% of the total product by weight.
The "with" rule
If the bag says "With Chicken," the recipe only needs to contain 3% chicken. Each named ingredient must make up at least 3% of the total product by weight. It’s a massive drop from the 95% rule, so keep a close eye on the ingredient list to see what makes up the other 97%.
The flavour rule
If a label says "Chicken Flavoured," there is no minimum percentage of meat required at all. The product only needs to contain an ingredient that provides that specific taste, such as chicken fat or digest. The flavour descriptor must be printed in the same font and size, and as conspicuously as the name of the designated flavour.
Understanding ingredient weights and order
It is always important to check the ingredients on the back of your bag of food and the order in which they appear.
The order will tell you the proportion of each of the ingredients in descending order (by weight prior to cooking). This means that at the time of manufacture, the first ingredient in the list contributed the largest amount and the last ingredient contributed the least. For example, if corn starch is listed as one of the first ingredients, the product will contain a greater amount of this ingredient compared to any of the ingredients listed afterwards.
So, for those products that are advertised as being premium and containing high quality ingredients such as 'smoked salmon' or 'roasted turkey', make sure you look at the order of ingredients to determine the actual proportion of those ingredients. If they appear way down the list, you will know that there is only a very small percentage of that ingredient and you may be overpaying for, or giving your pooch, a substandard product.
It is important to note that due to water weight, dehydrated meat or 'meat meal' can appear further down the list than other ingredients, due to being lighter in weight than other ingredients. This means that while reading the order of ingredients is important, it should always be taken with a grain of salt (read more about this below).
Real meat vs meat meal: What is the difference?
Meat meals are highly concentrated, dehydrated meats.
Uncooked meat has a high water content (approximately 75% of total weight), most of which is lost during cooking. In comparison, meat meal has a significantly lower water content (usually around 5-10% of total weight) so the end weight of meat meal does not differ greatly from its original, uncooked weight.
Most premium pet foods use meat meals in conjunction with or instead of raw meats to produce a diet high in meat proteins rather than just cereals.
As mentioned, the order of the list of ingredients will be based on the weights of the ingredients prior to being cooked. As meat has a high water content, it will be heavier compared to other ingredients like grains prior to being cooked, but not after. During the cooking process, most of the water content in the meat is lost, which may result in the food not being as 'meat based' as consumers have been led to believe. Manufacturers may therefore choose to use meat meal to ensure the finished pet food is a true meat based formula.
For more information on the ingredients found in pet food labels, have a read through Pet Food Ingredients: What's in Your Pet's Food?
The truth about cereals and fillers
'Cereals' refers to combinations of grains such as rice, wheat, barley, rye, oats. These grains can be very beneficial to your dog if included in balance with optimum levels of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
However excess quantities of grains in your pet's food act as 'fillers' which do not provide nourishment and end up being excreted as waste. Cereals are much cheaper to source than meat, so cheaper foods often use higher quantities of cereals to form the bulk of the food to save on costs.
Learn the Facts about Diets Containing Grains.
Identifying ambiguous ingredients and "and/or" labels
Be wary of labels that do not immediately refer to which meat protein they use and state "and/or" in the ingredients section. For example, if the ingredients read "meat and meat by-products (beef, poultry and/or lamb)" this means that the manufacturer can use any of those three proteins, either by themselves OR a combination of two OR all three.
Why would they do this? You might ask. Budget pet food brands can save a lot of money by opportunistically seeking whatever meat is available at the time of manufacture. It might be pork one month, and then chicken the next.
The same goes for cereals. If the grains are listed collectively as 'cereals' rather than individually listed, it is impossible to know what types and proportions of grains are actually in your pet's food.
Ambiguous descriptions of ingredients means that you won't know what is in your dog's food and the formula may change between each batch depending on which ingredient is currently cheapest on the market. Sudden changes in your dog's diet as a result of changes in formulations can cause your dog to have stomach upsets, commonly diarrhoea or vomiting.
For more information, take a look at the Real Cost of Supermarket Food.
Checking for AAFCO nutritional adequacy
Most pet food manufacturers adhere to guidelines set out by AAFCO (Association for the American Food Control Officials). While AAFCO doesn't actually do testing on individual brands, it has released strict minimum requirements, established through years of testing, for all minerals and macronutrients as appropriate for different lifestages (ie puppy, adult, etc).
How to check it meets requirements: If pet food has established that it meets requirements, it will have a statement on its label that indicates whether the food is in line with AAFCO guidelines. If this statement is missing from a label, the food may not be balanced to provide all the nutrition your pet needs, and it is best avoided.
FAQs
Choosing the right food shouldn't be a guessing game. By focusing on the order of ingredients, looking for specific meat sources and ensuring there is an AAFCO statement on the bag, you can feel confident in your choice. Next time you reach for a bag, flip it over - your pet’s health starts with what’s listed on the back.
Articles recommended for you
Our vet authored guide to the benefits of feeding your dog fresh food plus tips and advice for introducing it into their regular menu.
See our guide to protecting your pet from parasites from our vet team.
Thinking of getting a fish? Check out our guide for setting up a tank and home care tips!
Looking to understand horse feeds better? This comprehensive guide covers feeding recommendations for horses of all ages and disciplines.
Does your pet suffer from anxiety? Check out our Vet-guide for treatment options to help your pet.
History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Wed 4 Feb 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Teagan Lever BVSc (Hons)
Head Veterinarian, BVSc (Hons)
Pet Circle's Head Veterinarian, Dr Teagan graduated from the University of Queensland in 2010 and went on to work in small animal and mixed practice in various locations around QLD & ACT before joining Pet Circle in early 2016. Dr Teagan has special interests in dermatology, nutrition and preventative health care. She feels privileged to witness the special bond people share with their pets on a daily basis and enjoys forming lasting relationships with pet parents and their fur children.
