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Your Questions, Answered

Our recipes meet AAFCO standards and follow WSAVA guidelines.

What AAFCO trials measure, and what they don’t

You may have seen AAFCO—the Association of American Feed Control Officials—listed on pet food packaging. It’s a private, voluntary group whose nutrient guidelines form the basis for many state pet food regulations.

Our formulas are developed to meet AAFCO’s “complete and balanced” criteria. A common way companies demonstrate that is through an AAFCO feeding trial: a minimum of eight adult dogs (one year or older), of which at least six must complete a six‑month trial while remaining healthy. During the study dogs cannot lose more than 15% of their starting weight, and averages for four blood measures (hemoglobin, packed cell volume, serum alkaline phosphatase, and serum albumin) must stay within accepted ranges. Any signs of deficiency or toxicity result in a failed trial.

Feeding trials provide useful information, and we have run them on several recipes. Still, they have constraints—small sample sizes, limited duration, and a narrow set of measurements—so we designed a larger, longer study with expanded data collection to better demonstrate that our food supports optimal long‑term nutrition. “At Charlie's Learning, we uphold a consistent, trustworthy process from start to finish”.