What “Comparable” Means in an AAFCO Statement
PARTNER Editorial TeamA nutritional adequacy statement can say a food is comparable to one supported by AAFCO feeding tests. Read that as a statement about a relationship between two foods. It does not say that the exact recipe in your hand was itself fed in the test.
AAFCO’s label guide calls this the family-product route. The two products can be similar without being identical. If you were reading quickly and only noticed the words “feeding tests,” go back and look for what those words refer to.
Copy the whole statement, including who the food is for
Take a photo that includes the complete wording, the exact recipe name and the species and life stage. A cropped screenshot showing only a reference to feeding tests loses the information that answers your question. A product photograph or a familiar name on the front does not identify which formula was tested.
| What the sentence does | What you can record | What remains open |
|---|---|---|
| Directly describes feeding tests as support for this product | The method stated and the intended species and life stage | Details of the test and other outcomes |
| Compares this product with one supported by feeding tests | A comparable-product claim for the species and life stage shown | The identity of the reference product and the basis for comparison |
| Says the product is formulated to meet a nutrient profile | The profile named for that recipe | Whether a feeding study exists separately |
Ask a question that distinguishes the two recipes
Try: “I’m looking at the current package for this exact formula. Which product was used in the feeding test, and can you explain how the formula I would buy was shown to be comparable?” If you need the answer for a veterinary visit, ask for it in writing so the clinic can read the qualifications and units directly.
If a reply just repeats the words on the label, record that the reference recipe was not identified in the reply. You can leave that field blank. It is more useful than assuming a sister product has the same ingredient list or reporting the comparison as an exact-recipe trial.
For the broader question of what each route establishes, start with our guide to adequacy and feeding trials. The family wording is one piece of the selection decision; the specified species, life stage and any individual clinical needs still determine which questions to ask next.
Written by PARTNER Editorial Team for general education. Contact your veterinary team for advice about your pet’s individual health and feeding needs.