USDA CONSIDERS ENDING GRADING OF IMPORTED MEATS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposes to discontinue the grading of imported beef, lamb, veal and calf carcasses.
“This proposed rule will assure U.S. consumers that the USDA grade shield only appears on meat products from livestock slaughtered in the United States,” said Kathleen A. Merrigan, Agricultural Marketing Services administrator at the USDA.
In 1999, the National Cattleman’s Beef Association and the American Sheep Industry Association asked the USDA to end grading of imported meats. A request by the USDA for comments from the industry generated 104 responses, mostly in favor of terminating the practice. “They expressed concern that applying the USDA grade shield to imported meat products confuses consumers about the origin of those products,” the USDA said.