What does the phrase ‘Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles’ mean?
It means that AAFCO has not assessed the corresponding nutrient (e.g. omega-3 fatty acids) as an essential requirement for survival and it is added as an additive to the food. However, some of these nutrients AAFCO doesn’t recognize have been shown by other research organizations to provide significant health benefits. For example in 2010, the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association published a series of studies that showed how Omega-3 fatty acids could improve mobility and reduce arthritis pain in dogs.
