United States Department of Agriculture

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) provides 

American agriculture with valuable tools and services, 

such as grading, certification, and verification, that help 

create marketing opportunities. Through these services 

we guarantee the quality of American food and add value 

to American products. Below is a list of the labels and 

standards AMS verifies.

Understanding 

Food Quality Labels

A Guide to AMS Grade Shields, 

Value-Added Labels, and Official Seals

Grade AA, A or B 

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 1947

This shield applies to butter and cheeses that have United States grade standards. These standards are 

based on measurable attributes, such as flavor, body, and texture that describe the value and utility of the 

product. USDA must grade the butter and cheese in the final package. The designated grade could be AA, A, 

or B. Currently, AA is only used for butter.

U.S. Extra Grade

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1952

This shield applies to dairy products, such as non-fat dry milk and bulk American cheese, that have grade 

designations other than letters. Any product with this label attached would have to be graded prior to the 

product leaving the control of the manufacturing facility.

USDA Quality Approved

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1952

This shield is applied to any dairy product package that does not have an established United States 

grade standard. This shield could be used on margarine or a non-standardized cheese, and reflects USDA’s 

evaluation of flavor, body, texture, and other quality attributes. Any product with this label attached would 

have to be graded prior to the product leaving the control of the manufacturing facility.

Agricultural Marketing Service

Grade & Quality Labels for Dairy Products

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Agricultural Marketing Service Understanding Food Quality Labels

Continuous Inspection Grades

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1973

The Continuous Inspection Grades and Inspection Marks are for use 

by plants operating under USDA continuous inspection contracts for 

processed fruits and vegetables. The grade mark would indicate the 

quality level of the product. The designated grade could be Grade A 

(shown left) or Grade B (shown right).

Continuous Inspection Marks

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

The Continuous Inspection Marks are for use by plants operating under 

USDA continuous inspection contracts. No grade is designated, and the 

statement may be used inside a shield (shown left) or without the use 

of an emblem or shield (shown right).

Inspection Grades

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Inspection Grades are for use by plants operating under USDA inspection 

service contracts. The grade mark indicates the quality level of the product. 

The Grade A shield is typically tri-colored in blue, white, and red from top 

to bottom.

Inspection Marks

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Inspection Marks are for use by plants operating under USDA inspection 

service contracts. They are used without a grade, and can be used with the 

shield (shown left) and without the shield (shown right).

Quality Assurance Program (QAP)

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1976

The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) shield is used to designate 

participation in the QAP service. The facility under contract is operated 

with USDA oversight, their quality control program is reliable, and capable 

of producing sound and wholesome product of the desired quality under 

sanitary conditions.

Grade & Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops

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Agricultural Marketing Service Understanding Food Quality Labels

Processed Product Inspection Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1983

This inspection mark is for processed products produced in an approved 

plant and inspected and certified by an inspector on a lot basis. They are 

used without a grade, and can be used with the shield (shown left) and 

without the shield (shown right).

Processed Product Grade Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Inspection Grade and Inspection marks indicate the processed fruits and vegetable products have been 

produced in an approved plant and inspected and certified by an inspector on a lot basis. The grade mark 

indicates the quality level of the product. Grades are typically Grade A, B, or C.

Sampling Marks

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1955

Official sampling marks identify products that have been officially sampled by a particular field office 

indicated by a code mark identifying the field office performing the sampling. 

Graded Product Packed Under Continuous Inspection

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

The approved shield with the appropriate U.S. grade designation may be used on containers, labels, or 

other packaging. Usage is when the product is packed under continuous inspection by the USDA inspection 

service, the plant in which the product is packed is maintained under good commercial sanitary practices 

and the product has been certified by an inspector as meeting the requirements of the U.S. Grade A, Grade 

No. 1 or a higher designated grade.

Continuous Inspection by Federal-State Licensed Employees

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956 

A federal-state licensed employee uses the following shields in facilities 

packing under continuous inspection, and the product meets a U.S. Grade 

of No. 1. Two examples of shields with packer identification numbers are 

provided here.

Grade & Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops (continued)

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PACKER NO. 01

PACKED UNDER CONTINUOUS 

FEDERAL-STATE INSPECTION
Agricultural Marketing Service Understanding Food Quality Labels

Fresh Produce Inspected Lots

Type: Packer/Industry

Status: In use since 1956

Fresh produce that is inspected on a lot-by-lot basis is identified by the official inspection mark. The mark is 

stamped on a container.

Qualified Through Verification (QTV)

Type: Consumer/Industry

Status: In use since 1997

The Qualified Through Verification (QTV) shield is used to designate participation in the QTV program. The 

QTV program is a food safety based program with a foundation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point 

(HACCP) principles, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), AMS’s “Good Agricultural Practices” and “Good 

Handling Practices” (GAP and GHP) Verification, effective sanitation programs, product recall planning, and 

microbiological testing.

Quality Monitoring Program (QMP)

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 2007

The Quality Monitoring Program (QMP) logo is used to designate participation in the QMP. QMP provides a 

supplier with an objective, third party assessment of the product’s quality. These evaluations may be based 

on official U.S. grade standards or customer quality specifications.

Partners in Quality (PIQ)

Type: Packer/Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 1997

The Partners in Quality (PIQ) shield designates a client’s participation in programs that USDA licensed 

personnel audit. Auditors document intensive systems used by packinghouses to ensure the quality of the 

commodities passing through them.

Identity Preservation (IP)

Type: Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 2008

The Identity Preservation (IP) Program logo is used by clients that are enrolled in the IP Program. It is used 

to verify client claims about certain unique values of a product.

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP)

Type: Packer/Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 2007

This logo is used to designate participation in Specialty Crop Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Good 

Handling Practices (GHP) audit programs.

Grade & Quality Labels for Fruits, Vegetables, and Specialty Crops (continued)

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Grade Shield

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 1976

USDA poultry grading is a voluntary service paid for by poultry producers. As an independent third party, 

USDA is recognized for assuring that poultry meet the U.S. grade standards. While there are other grades, 

Grade A is the most common grade sold in supermarkets. What makes poultry products qualify for Grade 

A depends on the absence of “defects,” such as the presence of feathers or bruising and discoloration. As 

poultry is graded, it either meets Grade A criteria for quality or it is downgraded to lesser grades (B &C) 

depending on the number of defects.

Grades for Poultry

Grades for Eggs

Shell Egg Grades

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 1963

USDA shell egg grading is a voluntary service paid for by shell egg producers.  As an independent third 

party, USDA is recognized for assuring that eggs meet the U.S. grade standards for quality and sanitary 

processing.  Eggs are categorized into one of three consumer grades:  

• Grade AA – The freshest and highest quality eggs will receive a Grade AA.

• Grade A – Very high quality eggs will receive a Grade A.

• Grade B – Grade B eggs are usually used for breaking stock (liquid eggs) and baking, depending on 

the number of defects.

USDA Certified Organic

Organic Seal

Type: Consumer/Processor/Industry

Status: In use since 2002

Organic certification verifies that farms and businesses comply with the USDA organic regulations and allows 

businesses to sell, label, and represent their products as organic. There are three distinct labeling categories 

for organic products:

• 100 Percent Organic - Agricultural products in the “100 percent organic” category contain only 

ingredients that are certified organic, including any processing aids. 

• Organic - Agricultural products in the “organic” category must contain no less than 95 percent of 

certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).  The remaining five percent of ingredients 

must be organically produced, unless commercially unavailable or allowed on the National List. 

• “Made With” Organic - Multi-ingredient agricultural products in the “made with” category contain at 

least 70 percent certified organic ingredients (excluding salt and water).  Any remaining agricultural 

products are not required to be organically produced, but must be produced without excluded 

methods – for example, genetic engineering.
Agricultural Marketing Service Understanding Food Quality Labels

Beef Grades

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 1927

The USDA grade shields are highly regarded as symbols of high-quality American beef.  Quality grades are 

widely used as a “language” within the beef industry, making business transactions easier and providing a 

vital link to support rural America. Beef grades include: 

• Prime – Prime beef is produced from young, well-fed beef cattle. It has abundant marbling (the 

amount of fat interspersed with lean meat), and is generally sold in restaurants and hotels. 

• Choice – Choice beef is high quality, but has less marbling than Prime. 

• Select – Select beef is very uniform in quality and normally leaner than the higher grades. It is fairly 

tender, but because it has less marbling, it may lack some of the juiciness and flavor of the higher 

grades. 

• Standard and Commercial – Standard and Commercial grades of beef are frequently sold as 

ungraded or as store brand meat. Utility, Cutter, and Canner grades of beef are seldom, if ever, sold at 

retail. Instead they are used to make ground beef and processed products.

Tender & Very Tender Shields

Type: Consumer

Status: In use since 2012

USDA Certified Tender or Very Tender is a marketing program that aids consumers 

in making decisions on which beef cuts to purchase, and allows beef processors 

to market products as USDA Certified Tender or Very Tender. In order to become 

qualified to carry the Tender or Very Tender label, wholesalers or retailers are required to have certain beef 

muscles pass a slice shear force test that determines the tenderness of the muscle and associated muscles.

Process Control Certification Program

Type: Industry

Status: In use since 2001

This program is intended to add value to processed, donated red meat commodities through audit based 

process control. One AMS agent per shift will be required to monitor the PCCP operations of the entire 

production facility. The PCCP emblem may be used in advertising and promotional literature for finished 

goods distributed to States or State school systems, as well as commercial products produced with AMS 

Verification.

Grade & Quality Labels for Beef

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Additional Quality Labels for Livestock, Egg, and Poultry

Process Verified Program

Type: Consumer/Industry

Status: In use since 2005

Built upon the ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems Standard, Process Verified Programs (PVP) involve a 

comprehensive quality management system review, which allow companies to market their products using 

the USDA PVP shield. The PVP allows companies to develop their own marketing claims, such as a feeding 

claim, or use an established standard such as Never Ever 3 (never ever given hormones, antibiotics, or animal 

byproducts).
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Additional Quality Labels for Livestock, Egg, and Poultry

Accepted as Specified

Type: Industry

Status: In use since the 1960s

Under the certification service, meat, poultry and egg products are officially accepted as specified by AMS 

employees according to detailed specification requirements. These services ensure that volume buyers 

receive products that meet their specifications and comply with contractual requirements. These services 

also fill various market niches requiring export certification or various foreign country requirements.

Plant Variety Protection

PVP Seal

Type: Industry/Academia

Status: In use since 1970

Used only on Plant Variety Protection certificates which are issued by USDA. Similar to a patent, but verifies 

plant varieties.