Poultry and Poultry Products

Poultry Grading Shields

Poultry Grades

Poultry USDA Grade A Color LogoU.S. grades are based on nationally uniform standards of quality developed by the Standardization Branch.  These standards promote uniformity and assurance of product quality on a continuous basis regardless of supplier.  The official USDA grade shield indicates the product's quality level.


 

Poultry Trade Descriptions

Trade descriptions establish voluntary trade standards for ready-to-cook chicken and turkey products produced in the U.S. The descriptions are intended to facilitate wholesale trading of poultry by providing a tool to better communicate product and packaging requirements among buyers and sellers.

Poultry and Poultry Products Grades and Standards

  1. U.S. Grade A. A lot of ready-to-cook poultry, parts, or poultry food products consisting of one or more ready-to-cook carcasses or parts, or individual units of poultry food products of the same kind and class, each of which conforms to the requirements for A quality may be designated as U.S. Grade A.
  2. U.S. Grade B. A lot of ready-to-cook poultry or parts consisting of one or more ready-to-cook carcasses or parts of the same kind and class, each of which conforms to the requirements for B quality or better may be designated as U.S.