12 Ky. Admin. Regs. 3:028

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 6, December 1, 2024

Section 12 KAR 3:028 - Descriptive terms

RELATES TO: KRS 250.501, 250.521, 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY: KRS 250.571(1) authorizes the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station to promulgate administrative regulations necessary for the efficient enforcement of KRS 250.491 to 250.631. KRS 250.521 requires that pet foods be labeled and establishes the information that shall be stated on the label. This administrative regulation establishes a uniform format for labeling information for pet foods and delineates criteria for the use of descriptive terms.

Section 1. Calorie Terms.

(1) "Light."

(a) A dog food product that bears on its label the terms "light," "lite," "low calorie," or words of similar designation shall:

1. Contain no more than 3100 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than 2500 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than 900 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture;

2. Include on the label a calorie content statement:

a. In accordance with the format established in 12 KAR 3:042; and

b. That states no more than 3100 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than 2500 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than 900 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture; and

3. Include on the label feeding directions that reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use.

(b) A cat food product that bears on its label the terms "light," "lite," "low calorie," or words of similar designation shall:

1. Contain no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture;

2. Include on the label a calorie content statement:

a. In accordance with the format established in 12 KAR 3:042; and

b. That states no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture; and

3. Include on the label feeding directions that reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use.

(2) "Less" or "reduced calories."

(a) A dog or cat food product that bears on its label a claim of "less calories," "reduced calories," or words of similar designation, shall include on the label:

1. The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of calorie reduction (expressed on equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or more prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label on which the term appears;

2. The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one-half the type size used in the claim;

3. A calorie content statement in accordance with the format established in 12 KAR 3:042; and

4. Feeding directions that reflect a reduction in calories compared to feeding directions for the product of comparison.

(b) A comparison between products in different categories of moisture content (for example, less than twenty (20) percent, twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent, sixty-five (65) percent or more) is misleading.

Section 2. Fat Terms.

(1) "Lean."

(a) A dog food product that bears on its label the terms "lean," "low fat," or words of similar designation shall:

1. Contain no more than nine (9) percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than seven (7) percent crude fat for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than four (4) percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture; and

2. Include on the product label in the Guaranteed Analysis:

a. A maximum crude fat guarantee immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as specified in (12 KAR 3:022, Section 1(1); and

b. A maximum crude fat guarantee that is no more than nine (9) percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than seven (7) percent crude fat for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than four (4) percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture.

(b) A cat food product that bears on its label the terms "lean," "low fat," or words of similar designation shall:

1. Contain a maximum percentage of crude fat that is no more than ten (10) percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than eight (8) percent crude fat for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than five (5) percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture; and

2. Include on the product label in the Guaranteed Analysis:

a. A maximum crude fat guarantee immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as established in 12 KAR 3:022, Section 1(1); and

b. A maximum crude fat guarantee that is no more than ten (10) percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty (20) percent moisture, no more than eight (8) percent crude fat for products containing twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent moisture, and no more than five (5) percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five (65) percent or more moisture.

(2) "Less" or "Reduced Fat."

(a) A dog or cat food product that bears on its label a claim of "less fat," "reduced fat," or words of similar designation, shall include on the label:

1. The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of fat reduction (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label on which the term appears;

2. The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one-half the type size used in the claim; and

3. A maximum crude fat guarantee in the Guaranteed Analysis immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as specified in 12 KAR 3:022, Section 1(1).

(b) A comparison on the label between products in different categories of moisture content (for example, less than twenty (20) percent, twenty (20) percent or more but less than sixty-five (65) percent, sixty-five (65) percent or more) is misleading.

Section 3. Carbohydrate Terms.

(1) "Low" carbohydrate, dietary starch, and sugars claims. A claim of "low carbohydrates," "low dietary starch," "low sugars," or a combination thereof shall be prohibited.

(2) "Less" or "reduced" carbohydrates, dietary starch, and sugars claims.

(a) A dog or cat food product that bears on its label a claim of "less _____ " or "reduced _____ " (the blank shall be completed by using "carbohydrates," "dietary starch," or "sugars") or words of similar designation, shall include on the label:

1. The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of reduction in total dietary starch plus sugars (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label on which the term appears;

2. The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and not less than one-half the size used in the claim; and

3. Maximum guarantees for dietary starch and sugars as established in 12 KAR 3:022, Section 1(3).

Section 4. Incorporation by Reference.

(1) "2018 Official Publication", (2018 Edition), Association of American Feed Control Officials, is incorporated by reference.

(2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0275, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

12 KAR 3:028

45 Ky.R. 116, 633; eff. 9-28-2018.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY: KRS 250.521(2)(e), (f), 250.571