Why aren’t carbohydrate levels displayed for pet food?
Posted: Tue May 26, 2026 4:30 pm
Hello everyone,
I have a question about how information is shown on pet food packaging. In animal nutrition (for farm animals, for example), carbohydrate values are usually provided in a clear and standardized way, but for dog and cat food these carb levels are almost never displayed directly on the label.
Do you know why manufacturers do not indicate carbohydrate percentages for pet food, even though this information seems important and is commonly available in other areas of animal nutrition? Is it because of regulations, industry habits, or because these values would only be approximate? I would be very interested in your explanations and any sources you might have.
I have a question about how information is shown on pet food packaging. In animal nutrition (for farm animals, for example), carbohydrate values are usually provided in a clear and standardized way, but for dog and cat food these carb levels are almost never displayed directly on the label.
Do you know why manufacturers do not indicate carbohydrate percentages for pet food, even though this information seems important and is commonly available in other areas of animal nutrition? Is it because of regulations, industry habits, or because these values would only be approximate? I would be very interested in your explanations and any sources you might have.