The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has announced that it is accepting feedback on five new food items submitted for inclusion in its Common Food Index (CFI).
The five foods under review are oyster mushroom, lion’s mane mushroom, almond, cilantro, and sunflower seed. AAFCO uses the CFI to provide harmonisation and transparency in the animal food industry, assisting with ingredient reviews.
Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, stated that the goal of the CFI is to compile a list of historically safe ingredients with broad consensus. “Our intention in maintaining the Common Food Index is to serve as a trusted resource for animal food manufacturers and consumers,” Therrell said. However, he clarified that the CFI is not a substitute for AAFCO’s official process for new feed ingredient definitions.
The CFI, introduced in 2023, identifies common foods that may be suitable for use in animal foods, including petfood.
The organization is encouraging stakeholders, including veterinarians, animal nutritionists, industry professionals, consumer groups and the public, to submit feedback on the proposed foods. Feedback is due by December 13, 2024.
Stakeholders can submit their feedback here.
