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Animal Feed & Pet Food Sampling Program

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Animal Feed & Pet Food Sampling Program


The WSDA Animal Feed Program (AFP) collects samples of commercial animal food and ingredients for laboratory analysis under the state authorities provided in Chapter 15.53 RCW: Commercial Feed.

Animal food includes feed for livestock, poultry, and fish, as well as pet and specialty pet food, treats, and supplements. Animal feed and pet food sampling serves as a foundational component to the program’s mission to ensure the safety and integrity of animal food.

What Is Animal Feed & Pet Food Sampling?

Sampling is simply the process of collecting a portion of material from a larger quantity. The AFP routinely collects samples of animal food and ingredients at various locations such as retail stores, manufacturers, and warehouse facilities and submits them to accredited WSDA laboratories for evaluation.

Below is a list of types of analyses our labs check for the presence or levels of, which can affect an animal’s or human’s health, cause illness or death, or show if the label is misleading:

  • Pathogens

  • Mycotoxins

  • Ionophores

  • Heavy Metals

  • Pesticides

  • Label Truth

  • Vitamins

  • Filth

  • Prohibited Materials

Why Is Animal Feed & Pet Food Sampling Important?

Laboratory analysis of samples allows us to obtain information that is not readily available to staff in the field or to consumers. The AFP collects these samples to regulate the safety and integrity of animal food.

We check to:

  • Protect animals and humans from illness or death.

  • Prevent false or misleading label guarantees and claims.


If deficiencies, excesses, adulterants, or other violations are identified through analytical testing of samples, this can provide a basis for compliance or enforcement action, as well as evidence in the court of law.

How Does Animal Feed & Pet Food Sampling Work?

The AFP collects samples for various purposes, including surveillance (non-targeted), investigational, and enforcement-related sampling. Samples can also be collected during emergency response.
 

1. Planning and Preparation

Routine surveillance samples are collected at establishments selected at random, or if a company has a history of compliance issues, sampling can be specific to verify correction. Investigational samples are obtained for gathering information to be used in enforcement work, and are usually generated by a complaint, toxic incident, or an inquiry. AFP staff are trained to follow specific procedures so samples may be used as evidence in enforcing the law.
 

2. Collecting the Sample

The sample collected must be representative of the product sampled to provide a meaningful analysis. The technique of sample collecting is also crucial to the accuracy of the laboratory findings along with any possible compliance or enforcement actions based upon the results. The AFP has a collection of various tools and equipment that we use, depending on the type of sample being collected.



After AFP staff have collected a sample, they will place an AFP sticker on the bag/container of animal food to identify that it has been sampled from.



3. Lab Analysis

The program generally uses two accredited WSDA laboratories to analyze samples: Food Safety and Consumer Services Laboratory and the Chemical and Hop Laboratory. Our labs use a variety of state-of-the-art analytical instruments and methods to complete these tests.



4. Results

Once results are received from the labs, the program reviews the findings to ensure compliance.

For results not in compliance but that don’t pose a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, the AFP will inform the responsible party. The responsible party is then required to notify the AFP within 30 days of what steps they have taken to correct the findings and prevent them from occurring again in the future.

If results are found to pose a reasonable probability that the food will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, the food would be subject to a withdrawal from distribution order (stop sale) and/or recall.

Official Animal Food Sample Results from Past Years

The annual reports below show results of sample analysis of animal food and ingredients. They compare the guarantees of nutritional components on the label (or as calculated from the invoice data for customer formula feed) to the actual values found during analysis. (RCW 15.53.9042)

Common Misunderstood Terms on Pet Food Labels

While pet food labels must meet regulatory guidelines by including detailed information, it can sometimes be confusing for consumers to interpret all the different terms on the labels.

With animal food testing, we can find a product to be misbranded if results show the presence of an adulterant or deficiency/excess of a nutrient or vitamin. For example, if a product’s label states it is “Organic” and lab findings show there is a presence of synthetic pesticides or drugs, that product would be considered misbranded. Another example could be “Complete and Balanced” if the lab findings show a deficiency/excess of a nutrient or vitamin (like Taurine for cats).

Below is a list of some common terms you may encounter and their meanings.

 
Pet Food Label Term Meaning
Fresh A process where ingredients having not been subject to freezing, to treatment by cooking, drying, rendering, hydrolysis, or similar process, to the addition of salt, curing agents, natural or synthetic chemical preservatives or other processing aids, or to preservations by means other than refrigeration.
Raw Food in its natural or crude state that has not been subjected to heat in the course of its preparation.
Human Grade Every ingredient and the resulting product must be stored, handled, processed, and transported in a manner that is consistent and compliant with 21 CFR Part 117.
Treat A Treat designation on a label is to be provided occasionally for enjoyment, training, entertainment, or other purposes, and not generally intended or represented to be a complete feed or supplement.
Organic A feed product, or ingredient within a feed product, that has been produced and handled in compliance with the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program.
Complete and Balanced The “Complete” portion of the Complete and Balanced statement on a pet food label refers to a feed that is nutritionally adequate for animals other than man, is formulated to be fed as the sole ration, and is capable of maintaining life without any additional substance being consumed except water.

The “Balanced” portion of the Complete and Balanced statement on a pet food label may be applied to a diet, ration, or feed having all known required nutrients in proper amount and proportion based upon recommendations of recognized authorities in the field of animal nutrition, such as the National Research Council, for given set of physiological animal requirements. The species for which it is intended and the functions such as maintenance or maintenance plus product will be specified in the statement. For example, “Complete and Balanced for All Life Stages”.
Veterinarian Recommended These claims require a survey of a statistically sound number of veterinarians who recommend the product.
Natural A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal, or mined sources, either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in amounts as may occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices.
All Natural If the term is used in a manner that applies or refers to the product as a whole, then all ingredients in the product as well as the product itself must meet the definition for "natural".

If you feel you have noticed a misleading or false claim on an animal food label, please report it to the Animal Feed Help Desk at animalfeed@agr.wa.gov or 360-902-1844.

New Pet Food Label Rules

In 2015, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) began the Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) project to update the model regulations that set the requirements for pet food labeling, which individual states can then adopt and implement. The goal of the PFLM project is to make pet food labels more consistent and transparent by aligning more closely with the labeling on human food packaging.

During AAFCO’s Annual Meeting in 2023, the Association voted to adopt the new model regulations. Some of the major changes will include adding a nutrition facts box, product purpose statement, ingredient statement, and handling and storage requirements.

The next step will be for regulators in each state to adopt the new PFLM rules with a specified enforcement discretion period which would allow all companies to change their labels. Consumers will begin seeing changes to pet food labels in the coming years.

How WSDA Can Help You

If you have concerns that your animal’s food may create a health or safety concern, you can file a complaint with the WSDA and/or the FDA by following the links below.

If you have concerns about the accuracy of an animal food label guarantee or claim, you can file a complaint with WSDA.

If you submit a complaint to the WSDA, the AFP will review the information to determine what follow up actions are appropriate. This follow-up may include sampling of the affected product. Please note this process can be lengthy due to the steps involved with each investigation.

FAQs

1. Is it safe to buy animal food that has been sampled by WSDA?

Answer: Yes, if lab results find the food to be unsafe, the food would be subject to a withdrawal from distribution order (stop sale) and/or recall and would not be available for purchase. If food that was sampled by the AFP and it remains for purchase, it means the lab findings show the food to be safe and have true label guarantees and claims.

 

2. How do I know if the animal food I purchased has been sampled?

Answer: In retail stores, you may see our sampling stickers, seen below, on individual bags of food that have been sampled. You may also see our placard describing our Sampling Program in English, Spanish, and Chinese inside stores.

3. How can I safely handle my pet’s food?

Answer:

  • It is important to wash your hands with soap and water after handling any pet food or treats.

  • Don’t let your pet lick open wounds, areas with broken skin, or mouth and face.

  • Clean your pet’s food and water bowls, food scoops, treat toys, feeding mats, placemats, and any other items that have direct contact with the food regularly.

  • Follow the recommended storage instructions on pet food labels.

  • Seattle-King County Public Health has a flyer on safe handling instructions for pet food.
     

4. How do I know if my animal’s food has been recalled?

Answer: WSDA helps ensure that human and animal food sold in Washington state is produced and sold in a safe manner. If a human or animal food product may be harmful, WSDA will recommend that a food producer recall the product.

A recall is the removal of a product from stores, markets, and other avenues of commerce by a food producer or distributor. WSDA monitors recalls conducted by WSDA AFP-licensed or WSDA AFP-registered operations.

WSDA will post a company's recall information on this website if the affected product can be found in Washington state. Human and animal food recalls affecting Washington state can be found at these sites:

Recalls | Washington State Department of Agriculture
Recalls & Withdrawals | FDA
 

5. If I still have questions about my pet’s food, where can I find more information?

Answer: