- The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is inviting industry professionals and the public to provide feedback on a new list of food items proposed for inclusion in the Common Food Index (CFI).
- The CFI serves as a repository of common foods deemed suitable for animal consumption. It helps streamline the review process for ingredients listed on animal food labels, ensuring consistency and clarity. According to Austin Therrell, AAFCO’s executive director, the goal of the CFI is to compile a list of historically safe items that can be trusted by both manufacturers and consumers. However, he emphasized that the CFI does not replace the official process for defining new feed ingredients, which is outlined in AAFCO’s Official Publication.
- Common foods include commercially available items such as whole seeds, vegetables, and fruits that are safe for animal consumption but not specifically defined by AAFCO. These can also encompass certain human foods known to be safe for animals. Manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety and suitability of these foods before they are distributed as animal feed.
- The current list under consideration includes five items: Oyster Mushroom; Lion’s mane mushroom; Almond; Cilantro; and Sunflower seed. AAFCO encourages veterinarians, animal nutritionists, consumer groups, and the general public to review the proposed items and provide their feedback by December 13, 2024. To participate in the feedback process, e-mail aafco@aafco.org.
- The request for feedback and the CFI is an opportunity for companies in the food industry to provide AAFCO with information about common food products that are suitable for use in animal feed applications, with the potential to limit waste and provide nutrition with efficient identification and labeling.
- Keller and Heckman will continue to monitor updates to animal feed ingredients and can assist in providing feedback to AAFCO.