Section II. DETERMINING QUALITY GRADE (RATING)
3-11. QUALITY RATING (MATCHING THE GRADE DETERMINED WITH THE
GRADE REQUIREMENTS)
When the class and condition have been determined and each quality factor has
been evaluated, then the bird may be assigned a final quality rating or grade. (See
figure 3-1 for a summary of quality requirements.) The grade is based on the factor with
the lowest rating. Thus, if the bird meets the requirements for A quality in all except for
one factor of B quality, the final grade designation would be "B."
3-12. CONSUMER GRADES
The USconsumer grades (US Grade A, U.S. Grade B, and US Grade C, for
ready-to-cook poultry) are applicable when each carcass or part has been
individually graded.
a. United States Grade A. The US Grade A is designated as a lot of ready-to-cook poultry
or parts consisting of one or more ready-to-cook carcasses or parts of the same kind
and class, each of which conforms to the requirements for A quality.
b. United States Grade B. The US Grade B is designated as a lot of ready-to-cook poultry
or parts consisting of one or more ready-to-cook carcasses or parts of the same kind
and class, each of which conforms to the requirements for B quality or better.
c. United States Grade C. The US Grade C is designated as a lot of ready-to-cook poultry
or parts consisting of one or more ready-to-cook carcasses or parts of the same kind
and class, each of which conforms to the requirements for C quality or better.
3-13. PROCUREMENT GRADES
The US procurement grades for ready-to-cook poultry are applicable to
carcasses of ready-to-cook poultry when each carcass in a lot is examined or when
each carcass in a representative sample from the lot is examined.
a. United States Procurement Grade I. Any lot of ready-to-cook poultry composed of
one or more carcasses of the same kind and class may be designated and identified as
US Procurement Grade I when:
(1) Ninety percent or more of the carcasses in such lot meet the
requirements of A quality with the following exceptions:
(a) Fat covering and conformation may be of B quality.
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