Animal Feed & Pet Food Testing

Pet food and animal feed must meet the same strict FDA and state food safety standards as human food. Additionally, many manufacturers choose to follow the voluntary safety guidelines set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Ensuring compliance with these standards requires accurate, reliable testing from experts who understand the unique challenges of the industry.

At FSNS, we specialize in pet food testing and have built a longstanding relationship with the pet food and animal feed industries. Our extensive North American network of over 30 ISO 17025-accredited labs and competitive turnaround times ensure you get the data you need to keep your products safe and compliant.

Full Range of Animal Feed and Pet Food Testing Services

Whether manufacturing or packaging pet food or animal feed, our animal feed and pet food testing labs offer validated methods for accurate, trustworthy results so you can make sound business decisions. Our standard services are listed below.

Analytical Chemistry for Pet Food and Animal Feed

Our animal feed and pet food testing labs have the capability to test a variety of matrices, including raw ingredients; finished product; and wet, dry, and semi-moist product using a variety of assays, allowing you to have all your chemistry testing done with one company.

Our analyses provide the data you need to verify product safety and meet regulatory requirements. We test for all parameters surrounding the full AAFCO profile and beyond, including guaranteed analysis, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, heavy metals, allergens, peroxide value, meat speciation, melamine, and more.

AAFCO Profile

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude & Total Dietary Fiber

Calories & Carbohydrates

Minerals

Heavy Metals

Amino Acids

Fatty Acids

Sugars

Vitamins

Water Activity

Allergens

Meat Speciation

Melamine & Related Compounds (MARC)

Mycotoxins

Rancidity Testing (Peroxide Value & TBA)

Shelf-Life Studies (Real-Time & Accelerated)

Microbiology Testing for Pet Food and Animal Feed

We support your environmental monitoring program through accurate testing with competitive turnaround times for pathogens, indicator organisms, and spoilage organisms. Our EMP experts can evaluate your program and provide guidance on designing and conducting an EMP that’s right for your facility.

Microbiology Testing:

Salmonella

Listeria

Enterobacteriaceae

Indicator Organisms

  • Aerobic Plate Count
  • Generic E. coli
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Total & Fecal Coliforms
  • Yeast & Mold

Ractopamine Analysis by LC-MS/MS

An animal feed additive, ractopamine is a beta-adrenergic receptor agonist that mimics the effects of adrenaline and increases protein synthesis in mature animals. Though not prohibited by FDA, some companies and countries do enforce a ractopamine-free zero tolerance rule in beef and pork. Animal feed exporters to affected countries must comply with these restrictions.

We analyze for ractopamine using LC-MS/MS instrumentation and validated methods to provide trustworthy, accurate data. Reports can be provided in a variety of languages and formats to meet your needs.

Manage Your EMP More Effectively & Efficiently

FSNS offers emma®, a proprietary application that streamlines and automates your EMP and is linked directly to the FSNet portal for ease of use. Emma® provides real-time data & facility visualization, customizable swabbing plans, and remediation management for failed sites, enabling you to manage your EMP more effectively and efficiently.

With emma®, you can save valuable time and reduce costs by automating tedious tasks and consolidating all EMP data in a single secure location. Ditch the traditional binders and spreadsheets and take your EMP to new heights with emma®! Contact us to schedule a demo so you can see all that emma® has to offer.

Safety Training & Education

Our certified training programs provide ongoing education opportunities to your staff to meet certification requirements and promote safety throughout your organization. Some course options are listed below. Review the schedule of courses here.

Education Courses

FSPCA Preventive Controls for Animal Food & Human Food (PCQI)
Sanitation Courses
HACCP Courses
Microbiology & Food Safety Courses
And More

Accurate Data to Make the Best Decisions

Lab+, the contract research division of FSNS, designs and conducts shelf-life studies, challenge and validation studies, foreign material identification, and other scientific studies that provide the data you need to give you an edge with your research and development projects. Our team of industry experts works with you to determine your study specifications and timeline to prepare a project that provides you with the answers you need. Our level of commitment and communication through the process is unparalleled.

Ensure Compliance With Pet Food and Related Pet Regulations

The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) oversees the regulation of pet food (to include pet supplements) and pet medications sold in the U.S., ensuring these products meet strict safety and quality standards. Additional regulatory measures, such as GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) determinations, Food Additive Petitions, Medicated Feed Mill licenses, and New Animal Drug Applications, further reinforce product safety. For any animal-derived ingredients contained in the product, there are additional USDA requirements designed to ensure the safety of our pets.

At the state level, regulators implement additional requirements, including adherence to the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) ingredient definitions and labeling standards.

EAS Consulting Group, a Certified Group company, provides expert guidance to help you navigate these complex regulations. Our team ensures your pet food, medicines, and other pet products comply with all federal and state requirements, allowing you to confidently manufacture and distribute safe, high-quality products.

Standard services include…

Veterinary Food Submissions for GRAS and Food Additives

Good Manufacturing Practice Regulation Audits

Veterinary Product Labeling and Claims

Animal Food Safety – Food Safety Modernization Act

483 and Warning Letter Remediation

Recall Assistance

US Agent and Import Assistance

Due Diligence Assessments

In-House and Public Trainings

Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA)

Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA)

Pet Food FAQs

What specific tests does FSNS conduct to ensure the safety of pet food?

Key tests include Salmonella detection, especially for rendered proteins, Listeria for raw pet food, and screening for aflatoxins and heavy metals using validated analytical methods.

How does FSNS detect contaminants and ensure nutritional accuracy in pet food products?

We use analytical chemistry for label compliance and nutrient accuracy, HPLC for aflatoxins, and ICP-MS for heavy metal analysis. Microbial tests are performed using sensitive pathogen detection methods.

What regulatory challenges are faced by the pet food industry?

Zero tolerance for Salmonella, aflatoxin limits, and heavy metal maximum residue limits (MRLs) are major hurdles. FSNS helps you meet FDA requirements and identify product adulteration.

How does FSNS support ongoing compliance and quality control in this sector?

We offer process validation services for pathogen kill steps and contribute to industry committees. EAS Consulting Group, part of Certified Group, provides regulatory support.

Have questions? Connect with one of our experts today.

Contact us and we’ll help you find a solution.