Georgia Department of Agriculture

Pet Food

Pet Food

The Georgia Department of Agriculture regulates the can of cat food, bag of dog food, or box of dog treats or snacks in your pantry. The GDA’s regulation of pet food is similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires all animal foods be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

All ingredients used in pet food are required to be safe and have appropriate function. Many ingredients such as meat, poultry and grains are considered safe. Other substances such as sources of minerals, vitamins or other nutrients, flavorings, preservatives, or processing aids may be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for an intended use.

Visit the FDA website for more information on pet food and GRAS.

FDA and Pet Food Overview (video)
