Source of this article: Consumer Reports Author: Liu Xinge

3月27日，‍國家衛生健康委會同國家市場監督管理總局發佈了50項食品安全國家標準和9項標準修改單。其中，The newly revised labeling standards for prepackaged foods explicitly prohibit the use of "zero additives" and "no additives"., which has attracted widespread attention.

The new regulations aim to regulate market promotion behavior, protect consumers' right to know, and enable consumers to correctly understand food label information and choose food more scientifically and independently.

The concept of "0 addition" is also respected in the pet industry

Previously, in order to cater to consumers' pursuit of "natural" and rejection of food additives, some food companies marked the words "zero additive" and "no additive" on product packaging to attract consumers.

值得注意的是，近年來，“0添加”理念在寵物食品市場亦備受推崇。商家們紛紛以“0防腐劑、0誘食劑、0膠質、0香精、0澱粉、0色素”等為賣點，以天然、純淨的形象吸引寵物主的關注。

Among the domestic pet food brands, "Laiye", a subsidiary of Shanghai Jianmo Biotechnology Co., Ltd., recently launched a new cat food product - freeze-dried milk dates. The product claims to be "natural and delicious, with 0 natural additives", specifically 0 attractants and preservatives, 0 hormones and antibiotics, 0 synthetic minerals and vitamins, 0 gluten and cereals.

而麥富迪曾推出一款羽衣甘藍全期狗糧，同樣以“0添加”為賣點，宣稱產品不含玉米、小麥等穀物成分，以及香精、色素和化學誘食劑。此外，比瑞吉在2024年推出的“0添加”烘焙全價天然貓糧系列產品，聲稱結合烘焙工藝和全流程的天然標準，不添加任何人工防腐劑、誘食劑等。

(Source: Laiye, Maifudi, Birigi Tmall flagship store)

There are no standards for preservatives and attractants for pet feed in China

According to public information, long-term intake of excessive amounts of artificial flavors, colors and attractants may cause adverse effects on pets, such as allergic reactions, digestive problems and abnormal behavior. With the popularization of the concept of scientific pet raising, the nutritional ratio and ingredient safety of pet food have become the focus of consumers' attention, and more and more consumers tend to choose "0 additive" pet food and pet fresh food to ensure the safety and health of pet food.

Although, China has not yet formulated specific standards for preservatives and attractants in pet feed, but consumers don't have to "talk about color change". Attractants with natural ingredients such as yeast extract can not only increase the appetite of pets, but also play a role in protecting the stomach and intestines.

It is necessary to be vigilant that some pet foods on the market that claim "0 additives" are "not worthy of their name".

2024年8月，上海市消保委曾對32款貓條和狗罐頭進行營養成分和添加劑（焦磷酸鹽、海藻糖、琥珀酸二鈉、甜菊糖苷和5'-呈味核苷酸二鈉等）的檢測，其中有29款樣品宣稱0誘食劑、9款樣品宣稱0防腐劑。但檢測結果顯示，部分樣品檢測出微量的5'-呈味核苷酸二鈉、焦磷酸鹽等增味劑成分。

According to the Shanghai Municipal Consumer Protection Commission, "experts explained,At present, there is no relevant standard for preservatives and attractants in pet feed, and its quality cannot be generalized, the key is whether the use is reasonable and appropriate, and it is recommended that consumers rationally look at such propaganda and pay more attention to the nutritional content of the product itself.”

However, similar to human food, the expression "0 additives" in pet food is also misleading. Yang Huaiyu, a senior researcher at Xia Solstice Liangshi Consulting Management Company and an analyst of the large consumption industry, told the "Consumer Reports" reporter that the improvement of human food safety standards will inevitably make consumers pay more attention to the safety and ingredients of pet food.

“新規禁止‘0添加’相關宣傳，消費者可能會對寵物食品中的類似宣傳產生懷疑，更傾向於選擇資訊透明、標識規範的產品。隨著消費者對寵物食品關注度提高，監管部門可能加強對寵物食品標籤標識的規範，未來可能出臺更嚴格的法規。”楊懷玉說。