📋
Food label reference

Net Weight and Drained Weight: Pet Food Packages

Quick answer

Compare the weight definition actually printed on each package. The outer container weight is not food weight, and a drained-weight statement should not be substituted for net contents without explanation.

By DogSafeLast updated September 27, 2026

What to check

CheckWhat to verify
LabelCopy the exact weight heading.
PackagingExclude the can, lid and carton from food mass.
PriceUse the same weight definition for unit-price calculations.
Use this checklist for your own comparison

Record product details, quotes or unanswered questions. Notes stay in this tab; download them before leaving.

Copy the exact weight heading.

Exclude the can, lid and carton from food mass.

Use the same weight definition for unit-price calculations.

A practical example

A kitchen scale reading for a sealed can includes packaging. It cannot replace a label's net-food weight in a price comparison.

Before you decide

Measure like with like before calling one package better value.

For the broader task, see Dog-food label comparison.

Reference and scope

AAFCO: understanding pet-food labels provides background for this topic. Not an evaluation of a specific food or individual dietary suitability. The comparison prompts and examples above are practical planning aids, not reports of product testing.

Sources: AAFCO: understanding pet-food labels; AAFCO: ingredient lists. This article is general information, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog is in distress, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital immediately. Sources and editorial standards.