If you’ve found “ungraded beef” in your grocery store lately, it’s not mystery meat. In fact, authorities say it’s completely safe to consume.
“Essentially, you’re getting a product that’s safe to eat, but you don’t necessarily know what you’re going to get from a quality standpoint,” said Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of Dalhousie University’s Institute for Agricultural and Food Analysis. he says. he told CTV News Toronto.
Approximately 80 per cent of the beef sold in Canada is produced by local farmers, and the remaining approximately 20 per cent is imported into Canada each year.
Charlebois said grocers are importing more Mexican beef, which can be slightly cheaper than Canadian beef, as price-sensitive consumers look for bargains.
Ron Glaser, vice president of corporate affairs for Canada Beef, said the ratings are an indicator of quality, not safety.
Glaser said the grading system helps shoppers better understand what kind of product they are buying when purchasing Canadian beef.
“The highest grade is Canadian Prime, followed by Canadian Triple A and Double A. The majority of Canadian meat sold in Canada is Triple A and Double A,” Glaser explained.
Mexican beef can have a different taste and texture than Canadian beef, Glaser said, depending on the type of livestock used in production.
“In Canada, we primarily use European cattle genetics, which are very well known for the quality and taste of our beef. Further south, we need to use other breeds of cattle.” [that are better suited] It’s to manage the heat,” Glaser said.
Charlebois noted that ungraded meat may be of lower quality.
“Ungraded beef from Mexico typically comes from older bulls or cows,” Charlebois says.
A Loblaws spokesperson told CTV News Toronto in a statement that most of the beef the company sells is locally sourced.
“To offer our customers the best possible value and choice, we also offer high-quality cuts from several other countries,” the spokesperson said.
“Countries outside of North America often use different grading systems, so although beef is labeled as ‘ungraded’ in Canada, our beef is always of high quality. We will do our best to procure products and support the people who produce them.” ”
Loblaws added that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspects all imported meat, including beef, and approves it for sale in stores.
Charlebois said shoppers may see more Mexican beef on store shelves as grocery stores try to keep prices down in the meat aisle.
