Section 16-252-121 - Descriptive terms(1) Calorie terms: (a) "Light": (i) A dog food product which bears on its label the terms "light," "lite," "low calorie," or words of similar designation shall: (A) Contain no more than 3100 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than 2500 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than 900 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture; and(B) Include on the label a calorie content statement:(I) In accordance with the format provided in WAC 16-252-118; and(II) Which states no more than 3100 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than 2500 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than 900 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture.(C) Include on the label feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use.(ii) A cat food product which bears on its label the terms "light," "lite," "low calorie," or words of similar designation shall:(A) Contain no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture; and(B) Include on the label a calorie content statement:(I) In accordance with the format provided in WAC 16-252-118;(II) Which states no more than 3250 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than 2650 kcal ME/kg for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than 950 kcal ME/kg for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture; and(III) Include on the label feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calorie intake consistent with the intended use.(b) "Less" or "Reduced Calories": (i) A dog or cat food product which bears on its label a claim of "less calories," "reduced calories," or words of similar designation, shall include on the label: (A) The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of calorie reduction (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label on which the term appears;(B) The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one-half the type size used in the claim;(C) A calorie content statement in accordance with the format provided in WAC 16-252-118; and(D) Feeding directions which reflect a reduction in calories compared to feeding directions for the product of comparison.(ii) A comparison between products in different categories of moisture content (i.e., less than twenty percent, twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent, sixty-five percent or more) is misleading.(2) Fat terms: (a) "Lean": (i) A dog food product which bears on its label the terms "lean," "low fat," or words of similar designation shall: (A) Contain no more than nine percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than seven percent crude fat for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than four percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture;(B) Include on the product label in the guaranteed analysis:(I) A maximum crude fat guarantee immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as specified in WAC 16-252-036(1)(a); and(II) A maximum crude fat guarantee which is no more than nine percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than seven percent crude fat for products containing twenty percent more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than four percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture.(ii) A cat food product which bears on its label the terms "lean," "low fat," or words of similar designation shall: (A) Contain a maximum percentage of crude fat which is no more than ten percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than eight percent crude fat for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than five percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture; and(B) Include on the product label in the guaranteed analysis: (I) A maximum crude fat guarantee immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as specified in WAC 16-252-036(1)(a); and(II) A maximum crude fat guarantee which is no more than ten percent crude fat for products containing less than twenty percent moisture, no more than eight percent crude fat for products containing twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent moisture, and no more than five percent crude fat for products containing sixty-five percent or more moisture.(b) "Less" or "Reduced Fat": (i) A dog or cat food product which bears on its label a claim of "less fat," "reduced fat," or words of similar designation, shall include on the label: (A) The name of the product of comparison and the percentage of fat reduction (expressed on an equal weight basis) explicitly stated and juxtaposed with the largest or most prominent use of the claim on each panel of the label on which the term appears;(B) The comparative statement printed in type of the same color and style and at least one-half the type size used in the claim; and(C) A maximum crude fat guarantee in the guaranteed analysis immediately following the minimum crude fat guarantee in addition to the mandatory guaranteed analysis information as specified in WAC 16-252-036(1)(a).(ii) A comparison on the label between products in different categories of moisture content (i.e., less than twenty percent, twenty percent or more but less than sixty-five percent, sixty-five percent or more) is misleading.Wash. Admin. Code § 16-252-121
Adopted by WSR 18-21-191, Filed 10/24/2018, effective 11/24/2018