However, if the customer has received information about the company, in some instances help can be obtained. 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. Companies must pay to have USDA grade their meat and poultry products. USDA grades are based on nationally uniform Federal standards of quality and are assigned by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. For example, the highest beef grades are Prime, Choice and Select . The top grades for lamb and veal are Prime, Choice and Good .