(PRESS RELEASE) SUN CITY WEST, AZ — The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) announced that FoodScience, LLC is the first NASC member company to join the council’s newly established NASC Treat Program, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s 25-year history.
Introduced in February, the program helps address regulatory confusion by extending NASC’s established compliance and audit standards to suppliers of treats for dogs, cats, and horses. Companies that qualify to join the program and successfully complete the NASC Quality Audit can earn the coveted NASC Quality Seal.
“FoodScience has always been willing to lead by example, and it’s fitting that a founding NASC member is first to step forward and participate in this important new program,” said Bill Bookout, NASC president. “That kind of leadership helps move the entire industry forward.”
Pet treats are regulated as food, meaning all ingredients must be AAFCO approved and claims must be nutritional or for dental benefits. However, a growing number of treat products are touting benefit claims that legally qualify them as health supplements, not food. The new treat program applies NASC’s standards for quality systems, manufacturing oversight, labeling practices, and ongoing compliance to treat products for dogs, cats, and horses.
“The pet treat market has grown quickly, but the standards governing these products haven’t always kept pace with the innovation happening in the marketplace,” Bookout said. “The treat program was created to help bring greater clarity, accountability, and consistency for suppliers marketing products in this booming category.”
The NASC Quality Seal has long been recognized as a credible mark of quality for animal health supplements, and extending the seal to treat products gives retailers, veterinarians, and consumers a trusted mark of quality that brings greater confidence to the purchasing and recommendation process.
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“As a founding member of NASC, FoodScience, LLC has long believed that strong quality standards and transparent compliance programs elevate the entire industry,” said Sara Phillips, VP Global Pet Business, FoodScience, LLC. “We’re proud to be the first to join the new NASC Treat Program and to help bring greater clarity and accountability to a rapidly growing category. The NASC Quality Seal has earned trust over 25 years, and extending that standard to treats gives retailers, veterinarians, and pet parents added confidence in the products they choose.”
Additional treat companies are expected to join the program as it continues to roll out across the US and abroad. To learn more about the program, download the NASC Treat Program Guide.
About FoodScience, LLC
Founded in 1973, FoodScience, LLC is a nutritional science company dedicated to developing high-quality supplements for both humans and animals. Headquartered in Williston, Vermont, the company’s mission is to improve the lives of people and pets through science-based nutrition, responsible manufacturing practices, and a culture guided by its 26 “Fundamentals,” collectively known as the FoodScience® Way. For more information, visit www.foodsciencecorp.com.
About the National Animal Supplement Council
The National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of companion animals and horses that receive animal health supplements from their owners, while protecting and enhancing the animal health supplement industry. Founded in 2001, NASC represents hundreds of suppliers and service providers committed to quality, transparency, and responsible manufacturing practices. The NASC Quality Program and Quality Seal are widely recognized as the industry’s gold standard. For more information, visit www.animalsupplements.org.
