@darren1980 Tracey Forfa is the Director of that body, and they don't say that exact thing because it's outside of their purveiw. The FDA isn't interested in regulating boutique dog foods out of existence, they're interested in ensuring animal feed facilities are modernized and sanitized, ingredients used are well-regulated, and that diets sold interstate meet minimum AAFCO nutrient profiles. We know that's a bare minimum standard, especially given the DCM issue.
Do you have some prejudice against their current MSc Animal Nutrition & Metabolism director? Maybe you don't like their in-house DVM? Is the PhD in Animal sciences their Research and Nutrition Manager not good enough??
That's correct, none of those credentials are a PhD in small animal nutrition, or a DACVN/ECVCN, aka a board certified
PhD in animal sciences is not the same as a PhD in animal nutrition for pets.
I don't need a PhD in animal science to know that a regular DVM and a Masters in animal nutrition is an objectively lower standard than the teams of DACVNs Royal Canin has on staff.
I don't need that PhD to know they don't do feeding trials or publish peer reviewed research either, or to know that their diets are highly associated with DCM, which is widely thought to be a consequence of a lack of credentials on staff, research, and feeding trials.
And I certainly don't need a PhD to listen to the many experts who identify these as the most important issue areas for consumers to consider in selecting pet food.