"USDA Tender” Beef Label Coming Soon

"USDA Tender” Beef Label Coming Soon

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

Americans will soon have the option to purchase beef cuts labeled as USDA Certified Tender or USDA Certified Very Tender starting fall 2013.

The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has worked with researchers to develop a scheme to categorize beef tenderness on a scale of either tender of very tender. Approved beef processors like Cargill, will soon be able to market products under the new USDA beef tender label.

A new beef tender verification label will provide another opportunity to American cattle ranchers and meat processors to market their products, while providing consumers with more information. Meat tenderness is one of the major factors, which influences consumer satisfaction.