Food supplements destined for animals are called complementary feed and are governed by completely different composition and labeling regulations than those governing food supplements for human use, although they are manufactured according to the same hygiene and food quality requirements.
Complementary feed is defined according to Regulation 767/2009 as compound feed with a high content of certain substances but which, due to its composition, is not sufficient for a daily ration unless used in combination with another feed.
The components are classified into raw materials (e.g. carrots, beef liver…) and additives (e.g. vitamin E, Zinc, etc.). Other information such as analytical components, instructions for proper use, species or category of animals for which the product is intended… must also be declared.
In today’s post, we will focus on additives.
Additives are added to complementary feeds to provide benefits on the final product, and are governed by Regulation 1831/2003 and its subsequent amendments. Additives in animal products also have a code, of mandatory declaration, different from the code used for products intended for humans. For example, monosodium glutamate has the code 2b621, while in products intended for humans it has the code E-621.
Additives are classified in different categories: technological additives (antioxidants, thickeners…), organoleptic additives (colorants and flavorings), nutritional additives (vitamins, amino acids…) and zootechnical additives (digestive…).
The allowed additives and their maximum limits are in continuous revision, to guarantee the maximum safety for our pets, that is why we follow the changes that may occur to inform our customers about the novelties that may affect their labeling.
