Some stores offer consumers a choice as to the amount of fat in their ground beef.
The fat content must be labeled on the package and these two descriptors are the only permitted ones on ground beef in Oregon. Consumers may find some variation within each of the descriptors among markets. This is legal as long as the particular descriptor does not exceed the established standard. The same fat criteria apply if lean or extra lean are used. Often the consumer suspects the meat is old or spoiled or the meat department is attempting to hide old meat inside fresh meat.