AAFCO is an acronym for ‘Association of American Feed Control Officials’. They are a volunteer group of government agencies that began in 1901 to regulate pet food distribution and sale. The AAFCO doesn’t carry out any inspections or regulate dog food itself, but it draws out standards on nutrition. Examples include AAFCO nutrient profiles for what is considered a puppy food, and for All Life Stages food.
If a dog food manufacturer wishes to label its food as providing ‘balanced and complete nutrition for growth and development’, for instance, it must meet AAFCO requirements before it can receive approval from them. Generally, these will consider things like minimum protein and an adequate proportion of calcium to phosphorus.