Pet Food & Supplement Solutions Knowledge Inspired, Quality Driven.
Meeting the highest standards in pet nutrition Pet ownership is on the rise worldwide, with dogs and cats leading as the most popular companions. According to the American Pet Products Association, 66% of U.S. households—almost 87 million families—own a pet. In the EU, 26% of households have cats and 25% have dogs, while China’s cities are home to around 116 million pet dogs and cats.
The global pet food market has seen remarkable growth, with an average annual rate of 5.6%. By 2030, it is projected to reach approximately $206 billion. This growth is driven by demographic shifts, evolving household structures, and rising disposable incomes. Key trends shaping the industry: • Pet humanization • Premium quality products • Natural and novel ingredients • Demand for “clean label” products • Alternative proteins for pets with allergies
Today’s informed consumers expect pet food that is nutritious, safe, and free from pathogens, residues, and contaminants. Key factors for successful pet food products include: • Meeting pets’ nutritional requirements • Selecting high-quality raw ingredients • Advanced formulations and production methods • Maintaining optimal production conditions Whether you are a processor, manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, we deliver industry expertise to ensure quality, regulatory compliance, and brand protection.
Pet Supplements A balanced and heathy diet is a prerequisite for the wellbeing of humans and pets. Special circumstances can lead to a deficiency in certain nutrients. People have a wide variety of dietary supplements to choose from. Pets are important companions to humans and “pet parents” feel their pets deserve the same attention and care with pet supplements - a phenomenon known as pet food humanization. behavior, and stress. Their often-innovative character is based on special formulas of concentrated nutrients and novel ingredients. Pet supplements are subject to the same strict requirements in terms of quality, safety, and correct labeling. In addition to balancing deficiencies, pet supplements address issues like gut health,
Testing & analysis SGS provides comprehensive pet food testing to ensure product quality and compliance with standards such as AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation), and other regulatory bodies.
Microbiological Testing Detect pathogens, spoilage organisms, and indicator microorganisms to assess hygiene and identify sources of contamination. We test for: • Aerobic Plate Count • Anaerobic sulfite-reducing Clostridia
Our ISO 17025-accredited laboratories and expert teams offer: • Independent monitoring of raw ingredient suppliers • Analysis of pet food products to meet national and international requirements • Fast turnaround times and digital test result delivery
• Bacillus cereus • Campylobacter • Clostridium perfringens • Coliforms • E. coli • Enterobacteriaceae • Listeria • Salmonella • Shigella • Staphylococcus aureus • Vibrio species • Yeast and mold count
Contaminant Testing
We offer risk-based testing for a wide range of contaminants, including: • Antibiotically active substances (inhibitors) • Biogenic amines (including histamine) • Biotoxins: pyrrolizidine and tropane alkaloids (PAs and TAs) • Bisphenol A • Cyanide (hydrocyanic acid) • Diethylene glycol • Dioxins (PCDD, PCDF), dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and non-dioxin-like PCBs • Fluorine • Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) • Heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury)
• Melamine and cyanuric acid • Mineral oil residues (MOSH/MOAH) • Mycotoxins (aflatoxins, DON, fumonisin, zearalenone, ochratoxin A, T2 toxin) • Nitrates/nitrites • Nitrosamine • PFAS • Pesticide residues • Phthalates • Process contaminants (acrylamide, 3-MCPD, PAHs) • Radioactivity • Ragweed • Sulfites • Veterinary drug residues
Testing & analysis
Nutritional Testing Ensure your products meet nutritional requirements and labeling standards with tests for: • Proximates/ Weender analysis (crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, moisture) • Amino acids (including taurine) • Minerals and trace elements • Fatty acid profiles • Vitamins Stability Testing Customers expect pet food with a long and reliable shelf life. We provide: • Storage under tailored climatic conditions • Validation of product properties up to and beyond intended shelf life • Analysis of sensitive ingredients at defined intervals • Photostability testing
Molecular Biology SGS offers advanced molecular biology methods to address ingredient speciation, authenticity, GMO detection, and microbial population characterization: • Sanger Sequencing • Real-time PCR • Next-Generation Sequencing • Digital PCR
• Advanced Fragment Analysis • Whole Genome Sequencing
Sensory & Physical Examination Consumers have specific expectations regarding the appearance and quality of pet food. We offer comprehensive tests to assess: • Appearance, integrity, and internal surface condition • Count and size • Defects and foreign materials • Freshness parameters (acid value, peroxide value, TVBN, biogenic amines such as histamine, cadaverine, putrescine and tyramine, hexanal, malondialdehyde • Net mass and component verification • Packaging migration • Preservatives (BHA, BHT, TBHQ, etc.) • Processing indicators (starch gelatinization, pepsin digestibility)
• Sensory analysis (odor, color, texture) • Weight verification (gross, net, thawed)
Food label reviews Expert label reviews ensure your pet food products and supplements comply with national and international regulations. With LabelWise®, our SGS DIGICOMPLY module, we accelerate and enrich the compliance process. Our specialists review labels for:
• Allergen compliance • Health and nutritional adequacy claims • Multilingual labeling requirements • Calorie statement • Date markings • Feeding directions • Formatting and layout • GMO/GE labeling • Guaranteed analysis • Health, nutrient, production method and structure/function claims
• Identity and net quantity statements • Nutrition facts panel compliance • Organic claims • Additional legal requirements such as business name and address We support the full label development process, from simple checks to full compliance verification, including translation and review services for global markets.
SGS is your trusted partner for navigating the complexities of label compliance for pet food and supplements.
Regulatory compliance & advisory services
SGS Nutrasource helps you bring pet food and animal supplements to market quickly and efficiently, offering guidance and scientific support in: • Claim substantiation for ingredient and finished products • Independent and US FDA-CVM notified GRAS dossiers • Scientific review of ingredient submissions (AAFCO) • Food additive petitions • Veterinary Health Product notifications (Health Canada) • IP protection strategies • Safety and utility trials for animal feed ingredients • Efficacy and tolerability trials for pet supplements • Branded ingredient strategies • Preclinical safety study oversight • Marketing whitepapers and sales content • Globally relevant safety study design and execution • Laboratory-based third-party certifications
Ensure that products intended for pets and food-producing animals meet compliance requirements for ingredient content, product claims and risk to human and animal health.
Technical solutions & inspection services
SGS can help you make sense of pet food safety in a world where regulations are continuously evolving and are not always clearly defined. We’ve created innovative technologies to help you manage quality, safety and profitability across your supply chain. Environmental Monitoring Program (EMP) Pathogens can hide in equipment and SGS Digicomply Simplify compliance with access to constantly evolving food legislation and standards.
Our powerful content management platform transforms compliance data into actionable knowledge, combining technology and human expertise to deliver a coherent, tailored data feed.
facility areas that routine sanitation may miss. Monitoring the hygienic environment is critical for safe, high-quality pet food production. SGS EMVision offers an efficient, transparent way to manage Environmental Monitoring Programs, integrating sampling, visualization, trending, and out-of-spec management. Our digital platform provides interactive tools for in-depth analysis of your production facilities’ hygiene status.
Inspection Services Inspections throughout your supply chain are essential for ensuring pet food safety and quality. SGS offers global inspection services by qualified food inspectors, with detailed, impartial reports. Optional services include fast-tracked reporting and tailored evaluations. Our mobile tools and the GFI Global Food Inspection platform enable efficient, fully digital reporting. We conduct: • Pre-production hygiene inspections (GMP) • In-process product quality checks (IPRO & DUPRO) • Finished product quality checks (Final Random Inspection) • Container inspections, including temperature monitoring and loading supervision
Audit, certification & training We offer the broadest range of food safety, quality, environmental, social, sustainability and supply chain services. Our experts can help you comply with complex legislation and customer requirements. We can also help you develop systems that can be updated for incorporation into your good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and quality assurance program.
Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) We are recognized under the U.S. FDA’s TPP (Accredited Third-Party Certification) rule to conduct facility food safety certification. The SGS QIC (Qualified Importer Certification) scheme is developed for this purpose, to certify foreign suppliers and help U.S. importers meet the eligibility criteria of VQIP (Voluntary Qualified Importer Program). For foreign suppliers looking for evidence of compliance, SGS offers FSMA FSVP certification. The scheme is based on US food regulations and is accredited by ANSI.
Certification and/or auditing services include but are not limited to: • GFSI-recognized standards including BRCGS, FSSC 22000, and Safe Quality Food (SQF) • GMP and HACCP • Gluten-free certification schemes • ISO 22000, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 • Non-GMO and No GE • SMETA, social audits and sustainability programs
• Customized and 2nd party audits • Integrated or combined audits
SGS Academy As the global leader in professional training, we provide innovative learning and development solutions, covering multiple areas and industries, tailored to meet your needs in public, onsite and virtual formats. Our portfolio covers everything from BRCGS, FSSC 22000 Food Safety System Certification and FSMA, to GMP and HACCP training, food safety risk management, traceability, hygiene, regulation, food safety culture and more. We also offer Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) training courses including the FSPCA Preventative Controls for Animal Food Training. Upon successful completion, learners will receive an official FSPCA PCQI certificate issued by the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).
Pet Food & Supplement Solutions Knowledge Inspired, Quality Driven
Contact us food@sgs.com
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