USDA Grading

While federal inspection of meat is mandatory for safety reasons, grading for quality is not. In the United States, companies can choose to have their beef graded by the USDA. These grades range from U.S. Prime, which is the best quality and constitutes less than 5 percent of beef produced in the United States, to U.S. Utility, which is used mostly for pet foods; Cutter and Canner grades are used by processors and canners. Grades are assigned according to the amount of marbling and the age of the beef. For purchasers, the choice between grades of beef is often a monetary one. Here are the USDA grades in descending order of quality: