What is Ungraded Beef and Why is it Showing Up in Canadian Grocery Stores?

Ungraded beef from Mexico has been appearing on grocery store shelves across Canada recently. This has caused some confusion among consumers who are used to seeing quality grades like “Canada AAA” on the beef they buy. In this article, we’ll explain what exactly ungraded beef is, why it’s becoming more common, and most importantly, whether it’s safe to eat.

What is Ungraded Beef?

In Canada, most domestically produced beef is graded by the Canadian Beef Grading Agency into categories like Prime, AAA, AA, and A. This grading system assess factors like the animal’s age, the amount of fat marbling in the meat, and the color and texture of the meat. Grading gives an indication of eating quality and helps consumers know what they’re buying.

Ungraded beef refers to meat that has not gone through this grading process. The most common examples are imported beef from countries like Mexico that use different grading systems When this foreign beef arrives in Canada, it’s simply labeled as “ungraded” since it hasn’t been assessed by Canadian standards

Why is Ungraded Beef Hitting Store Shelves?

According to experts, there are a few reasons we’re seeing more ungraded beef lately:

• Increased consumer demand – With rising inflation, consumers are looking for cheaper meat options at the grocery store. Ungraded beef is often less expensive than its domestic graded counterparts.

• Grocery stores looking for deals – To meet the demand for lower prices, grocery retailers are bringing in more ungraded imported beef that costs less to purchase.

• Ongoing supply chain issues – Domestic beef production and processing has been impacted by factors like worker shortages and high feed costs. Importing ungraded beef helps make up for shortfalls in the Canadian supply.

Is Ungraded Beef Safe to Eat?

The most important question is whether ungraded beef is safe to consume. The answer is yes – eating ungraded beef poses no health risks.

Here’s why you can eat it with confidence:

• All beef imported into Canada is inspected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure it is safe for human consumption.

• Grading refers to quality, not safety. Ungraded beef meets the same health and sanitation standards as graded Canadian beef.

• The lower prices reflect quality uncertainty, not safety issues. There are simply no guarantees about tenderness, juiciness and other attributes.

• Leading grocery chains stand behind the products they sell and would not stock unsafe beef to save money.

What to Expect with Ungraded Beef

While ungraded beef is perfectly healthy to eat, the lack of grading does mean it may differ somewhat from the usual Canadian-graded product:

• Inconsistent taste and texture – Without grading, there are no guarantees about tenderness and juiciness. The meat may be slightly tougher or drier.

• Less marbling – Ungraded beef often has less internal fat marbling, which affects flavor and moisture.

• Older cattle – Imported beef may come from older animals like cows or bulls rather than the typical steers and heifers used for prime Canadian beef.

• Subtle taste differences – Factors like genetics, diet and environment can subtly influence the flavor profile.

Tips for Buying and Cooking Ungraded Beef

If you choose to purchase ungraded beef, keep these tips in mind:

• Examine carefully – Look at color and marbling to gauge quality and don’t be afraid to ask for a different package if unsatisfied.

• Use in stews and braises – Slow wet cooking methods make meat more tender and are very forgiving.

• Marinate overnight – Soaking in an acidic marinade helps break down tougher cuts.

• Cook hot and fast – Grilling or pan frying over high heat bypasses the need to tenderize.

• Slice thinly – Cutting across the grain into thin slices makes chewier meats more palatable.

The Bottom Line

Ungraded beef offers a cheaper alternative for shoppers looking to save money in the grocery aisle. While the quality may not match premium graded Canadian beef, it meets all the same health and safety standards. With care in selecting packages and some simple cooking techniques, ungraded beef can be an acceptable budget-friendly option. Just don’t expect it to be as tender or juicy as what you’re used to.