Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
What has to be on a dog treat label in Florida?
Verified September 7, 2026. Figures quoted from the statute, rule, fee page or form.
In Florida a dog treat is pet food, and its label follows the state's commercial feed labeling rules rather than the human food rules. The table below lists each label item with the citation it was read from, then the order of the guaranteed analysis and what a product identified as a snack or treat is excused from. Label filing in Florida: no, there is no pre-market label approval or review step; the department may request copies of labels after the fact.
What the Florida label has to carry
| Item | What Florida says | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Required label items | YesProduct and brand name required (Fla. Stat. 580.051(1)(c)); species designation not required by Florida statute or rule, since the pet food rule 5E-3.010 was repealed 6-1-95 and no pet-food-specific label chapter replaced it; quantity statement required as an accurate statement of the net weight (580.051(1)(a)); guaranteed analysis required (580.051(1)(e)); ingredient statement required by the common or usual name of each ingredient, using AAFCO Official Publication 2019 names (580.051(1)(f), 5E-3.004(1)); nutritional adequacy statement not required by Florida statute or rule; feeding directions not required by Florida statute or rule; calorie content statement not required by Florida statute or rule; guarantor name and principal address of the registrant required (580.051(1)(b)); precautionary statements not separately required, though precautions and directions for use may appear on the reverse side of the label (5E-3.005(1)); date of manufacture or expiration required only where the department requires it by rule, which today is ratite feed only (580.051(1)(d), 5E-3.005(3)); all information required by the federal Food and Drug Administration is required in addition (580.051(1)) | Fla. Stat. 580.051(1) (Labels) |
| Guaranteed analysis | YesMinimum percentage of crude protein, minimum percentage of crude fat and maximum percentage of crude fiber, plus mineral guarantees when more than 10 percent mineral ingredients are present; no treat exception | Fla. Stat. 580.051(1)(e)1. |
| What a treat is excused from | NoneNo Florida label rule carves a treat out of any label item; the only treat exemptions in the chapter are from nutrient sampling and from mycotoxin sampling, which are compliance duties and not label items | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.003(4)(b)1.d. |
| AAFCO text adopted | YesThe AAFCO Official Publication 2019 is incorporated by reference for ingredient names (5E-3.004(8)) and the Official Publication 2001 for minimum standards (5E-3.013); the AAFCO Model Pet Food Regulations are not adopted by name, and no Official Publication of either year is in the snapshot | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.004(8) |
| AAFCO edition | YesTwo fixed editions, Official Publication 2019 for ingredient names (5E-3.004(1) and (8)) and Official Publication 2001 for minimum standards (5E-3.013); neither publication is in the snapshot | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.004(1) |
| Label goes in with the filing | NoThere is no pre-market label approval or review step; the department may request copies of labels after the fact | Fla. Stat. 580.036(3) |
The guaranteed analysis, in the state's words
The guaranteed analysis, listing the minimum percentage of crude protein, minimum percentage of crude fat, and maximum percentage of crude fiber and, when more than 10 percent mineral ingredients are present, the minimum or maximum percentages of mineral elements or compounds as provided by rule.
The laboratory side of these guarantees, and what a test costs, is on the guaranteed analysis guide linked below.
What a treat is excused from in Florida
d. Treats shall be exempt from nutrient sampling and analysis requirements.
How the label reaches the state:
The department may request copies of labels and labeling and any other documents deemed necessary to ascertain whether such violation or noncompliance has occurred.
The federal package rules that apply on top
- The principal display panel must bear a statement of identity as a principal feature.
- Ingredients must be listed by common or usual name in descending order of predominance by weight.
- Label must conspicuously give the name and place of business of manufacturer, packer or distributor, with 'Manufactured for'/'Distributed by' qualifier when not the manufacturer; street address, city, state, ZIP.
- The principal display panel must bear a net quantity declaration in weight, measure, count or combination; solids in avoirdupois weight.
- Required information must be at least 1/16 inch high unless an exemption applies (small packages under 10 sq in may use 3/64 inch).
More for Florida
Florida questions on this topic
Do dog treats need a guaranteed analysis in Florida?
Yes. Minimum percentage of crude protein, minimum percentage of crude fat and maximum percentage of crude fiber, plus mineral guarantees when more than 10 percent mineral ingredients are present; no treat exception. Source: Fla. Stat. 580.051(1)(e)1..
Does a treat need a nutritional adequacy statement in Florida?
There is none in the text we read. No Florida label rule carves a treat out of any label item; the only treat exemptions in the chapter are from nutrient sampling and from mycotoxin sampling, which are compliance duties and not label items. Source: Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.003(4)(b)1.d..
Does Florida review my label before I sell?
No. There is no pre-market label approval or review step; the department may request copies of labels after the fact. Source: Fla. Stat. 580.036(3).
Which AAFCO edition does Florida follow for labels?
Yes. Two fixed editions, Official Publication 2019 for ingredient names (5E-3.004(1) and (8)) and Official Publication 2001 for minimum standards (5E-3.013); neither publication is in the snapshot. Source: Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.004(1).
Keep reading
DogTreatLicense is an informational reference about state commercial feed laws as they apply to people who make and sell pet treats in the United States. It reprints instrument names, fees, thresholds, label items and citations from state statutes, rules, fee schedules and agency forms, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and fees and rules change. Confirm with the state feed control office before you register or sell.
Read the terms before you rely on any figure here.