AAFCO Announces Common Food Index Additions

Organization seeks feedback from industry professionals on list of food items submitted for inclusion to the Common Food Index (CFI).

Continuing their efforts to maintain open dialogue and facilitate best practices, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is soliciting public feedback on those food items recently submitted for consideration to be added to AAFCO’s Common Food Index (CFI).  The CFI is a repository of common foods that may be appropriate for use in animal food and serves as a tool for use during review of ingredients on an animal food label, providing harmonization and transparency. 

“Our intention in maintaining the Common Food Index is to aggregate historically safe items, with a broad consensus, that can serve as a trusted resource to animal food manufacturers and consumers,” said Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO. “To be clear, the CFI is not a substitute for the AAFCO process for new feed ingredient definitions, which remains clearly delineated in the Official Publication.”

Common foods are defined as food items commercially available and suitable for use in animal food but are not defined by AAFCO, including but not limited to certain whole seeds, vegetables, or fruits. Common food for animals may include common human foods that are known to be safe for the intended use in animal food. Manufacturers are responsible for determining whether a common food is safe and has utility for its intended use prior to commercial distribution as animal food.

The current list of food items being considered for inclusion to the Common Food Index consists of 10 items. AAFCO’s subcommittee of experienced ingredient definition and label reviewers assessed and narrowed this list to the most common and well-known ingredients. AAFCO encourages stakeholders such as veterinarians, animal nutritionists, consumer groups and the general public to review the current list of proposed food items and provide feedback here

All feedback is due by May 31, 2024.