Brussels, Belgium – The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is pleased to announce the publication of its newly updated Fact Sheet, “The Science of Pet Food: Role of Carbohydrate.”

The Fact Sheet has been comprehensively revised to reflect current scientific understanding of carbohydrates in the nutrition of cats and dogs, incorporate evolving global pet food labelling requirements, and provide clear and accessible information that GAPFA members and other stakeholders can use and share with pet owners and other interested audiences.

Carbohydrates (starches, sugars, and fibres) are one of the major nutrient groups in pet food, alongside proteins, fats, and minerals. Although they are not considered essential nutrients for dogs or cats, carbohydrates provide energy (calories) and support digestive health, and play a key role in the texture of dry pet foods and some wet foods.

Florian Wastl, President of GAPFA, said: “Pet owners around the world are increasingly interested in understanding what goes into their pets’ food and the role different nutrients play in their health and wellbeing. GAPFA is committed to providing our members and other stakeholders with clear, science-based and accessible resources that can help them communicate this information effectively. This updated Fact Sheet brings together the latest scientific knowledge on carbohydrates in a format that can be easily understood and shared with pet owners and other interested audiences.”

The publication forms part of GAPFA’s ongoing work to provide reliable, science-based information and educational resources, helping to support informed communication on the nutrition, health and wellbeing of dogs and cats around the world.

The updated “The Science of Pet Food: Role of Carbohydrate” Fact Sheet is available alongside GAPFA’s other educational resources in the GAPFA Library: https://gapfa.org/library.

About GAPFA

The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) is a non-profit organization established in Belgium in 2014, representing pet food manufacturers globally. GAPFA’s vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of pets globally through access to safe, nutritious and sustainable pet food. The Alliance works to promote adherence to food safety and nutritional standards enabling manufacturers to deliver wholesome, healthy and nutritious prepared pet foods; to promote the feeding of prepared pet food to support the health and wellbeing of pets; and to develop and disseminate educational resources which highlight and enhance the benefits of human pet interaction. For further information, please visit www.gapfa.org or contact the Secretariat at info@gapfa.org.