Every "complete and balanced" pet food carries an AAFCO statement near the ingredient list. Standard wording: "[Product name] is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO [Dog/Cat] Food Nutrient Profiles for [life stage]." Foods validated by feeding trial use "animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that..." The exact wording matters — "AAFCO approved" or "meets AAFCO standards" is marketing language that doesn't have legal weight.