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International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture

ISSN Online: 2578-3475 ISSN Print: 2578-3467 CODEN: IJFSJ3
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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.06.008

Nutritional Profile and Determination of Aflatoxins in Puppy Food Available in the Local Market

Naseem Zahra*, Muhammad Khalid Saeed, Shumaila Usman, Saima Nazir, Ammara Yasmeen, Ijaz Ahmad

Food and Biotechnology Research Centre, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Lahore 54600, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: Naseem Zahra

Published: June 30, 2026

Abstract

The journey of dog domestication has been extensive and is still progressing, especially in their dietary practices. In the beginning, wild dogs relied solely on hunting for sustenance, but with domestication, they began to eat meals provided by humans. As obligate carnivores, dogs require animal protein in their diets, which should be complemented with easily digestible components to enhance nutrient absorption. This research included an examination of dry puppy food to assess its nutritional value and aflatoxin levels. The puppy food that was collected randomly from the local market showed a protein content of 22.80 ±0.50% and a calculated energy value of 377.00 ± 0.50 Kcal/100g. The findings were compared against the nutrient standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). According to AAFCO guidelines, the minimum protein content in puppy food, based on a dry matter basis, should be no less than 22-32%. Importantly, the analysis indicated that aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) were absent in the puppy food, confirming its safety for canine con-sumption based on the aflatoxin evaluation. Therefore, based on the nutritional and aflatoxin analysis, the puppy food acquired from the market is beneficial for the health of puppies.

Keyword

Puppy food; aflatoxins; nutritional aspects; threat

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Copyright

© 2026 by the author(s).
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) license, which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not modified or adapted.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

How to cite this paper

Nutritional Profile and Determination of Aflatoxins in Puppy Food Available in the Local Market

How to cite this paper: Naseem Zahra, Muhammad Khalid Saeed, Shumaila Usman, Saima Nazir, Ammara Yasmeen, Ijaz Ahmad. (2026) Nutritional Profile and Determination of Aflatoxins in Puppy Food Available in the Local MarketInternational Journal of Food Science and Agriculture10(2), 178-182.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.06.008