No. Although inspection of meat and poultry is mandatory; grading is voluntary. Companies can chose (and must pay) to have the meat and poultry that they sell graded by USDA. All meat and poultry transported and sold in interstate commerce must be inspected by the Federal government. The box or package of meat must bear the plant's inspection number. The Food Safety and Inspection Service carries out USDA's responsibilities under the Federal Inspection Act. These laws protect consumers by assuring that meat and poultry products are wholesome, unadulterated, and properly marked, labeled and packaged.
State inspection is mandatory for meat and poultry being transported and sold within a state. The state inspection programs must enforce requirements at least equal to those of Federal inspection laws.
USDA grades are based on nationally uniform Federal standards of quality and are assigned by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.
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