'Ungraded beef' from Mexico is showing up on store shelves. Here is what you need to know.
If you have spotted "ungraded beef" at your grocery store recently – it's not mystery meat. In fact, officials say it's completely safe to consume.
"Essentially, you're getting a product that is safe to eat, it is edible, but you don't necessarily know what you're getting from a quality perspective," Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab, told CTV News Toronto.
About 80 per cent of the beef sold in Canada is produced by local farmers, with the remaining roughly 20 per cent imported to the country each year.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Charlebois said price-conscious consumers are looking for deals, so grocery stores are bringing in more beef from Mexico, which may be slightly cheaper than Canadian beef.
Ron Glaser, vice-president of corporate affairs for Canada Beef, said grading is a quality indicator, not a safety indicator.
When you buy beef from Canada, Glaser said, the grading system gives shoppers a better idea of what product they're purchasing.
"The highest grade is Canada Prime, followed by Canada Triple A and Double A. The vast majority of Canadian meat sold in Canada is Triple A and Double A," Glaser explained.
Beef from Mexico may have a different taste and texture to Canada's, Glaser said, due to the type of livestock used in production.
"In Canada, we use primarily European cattle genetics, which are very well known for their beef quality and taste. As you go further south, you would have to use other types of cattle, (which are better suited) to manage the heat," said Glaser.
Charlebois noted ungraded meat could be of a lower quality.
"Typically, ungraded beef from Mexico would come from older bulls or cows," said Charlebois.
A Loblaw spokesperson told CTV News Toronto in a statement that most of the beef it sells is locally produced.
"We also offer quality cuts from several other countries to provide the best possible value and choice for our customers," the spokesperson said.
"Countries outside of North America often use a different grading system, which is why it is labelled in Canada as 'ungraded,' but it is always quality beef. We remain fully committed to sourcing Canadian-raised beef and supporting the people who produce it."
Loblaws adds the Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspects all imported meat, including beef, and approves it for the stores.
Charlebois said as grocers try to keep prices down at the meat counter, shoppers may see more Mexican beef on store shelves.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They thought he wasn't making it': B.C. soccer star's family on his shocking shooting — and remarkable recovery
Born and raised in Metro Vancouver, Nathan Demian was living his dream playing soccer for top-ranked Ohio State University, when he was shot during a post-game pizza run with his brother Saturday night.
MPs approve $21.6B in supplementary spending; Conservatives vote against
Parliament has approved $21.6 billion in government spending, in a late Tuesday vote in the House of Commons.
No injuries reported after gunshots fired inside Etobicoke high school, 2 suspects outstanding
Toronto police are searching for two suspects after gunshots were fired inside an Etobicoke high school late Tuesday afternoon.
DEVELOPING Luigi Mangione shouts as he is led into courthouse where he contests extradition to N.Y.
The suspect in the killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO struggled with deputies and shouted Tuesday while arriving for a court appearance in Pennsylvania, a day after he was arrested at a McDonald’s and charged with murder.
Celebrities and coastal residents flee from wind-driven wildfire in Malibu
Evacuation orders and warnings have gone out to 20,000 Southern California residents Tuesday as firefighters battled a wind-driven wildfire in Malibu that burned near celebrities' seaside mansions, horse farms and Pepperdine University, the sheriff's department said.
Waterloo Region mistakenly applied $13.7M discount to Amazon build in Blair
The Region of Waterloo will not be able to demand $13.7 million from a developer after they said a discount was mistakenly issued for the development of an Amazon fulfillment centre.
Dolly Parton explains why her longtime husband doesn't attend events with her
Dolly Parton has been married for 58 years, but you probably could count on one hand the times you have seen her with her husband.
'Which one of those two is going to win?': Poilievre prods Trudeau, Freeland over spending tension
Revived talk of tensions between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland prompted new questions Tuesday, about how big the federal deficit will be in next week's economic update.
Ex-minister cites 'threat to security' for denying emergency passport to Abdelrazik
Former foreign minister Lawrence Cannon says he denied an emergency passport to Abousfian Abdelrazik in 2009 because he considered the Montreal man a possible threat to national security.