Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Shoppers scanning the meat case often see labels such as Prime, Choice and Select. The labels are grades assigned by the U.S.

USDA prime beef is not as plentiful as other grades like choice or select. This is because the standards used to award that label are hard to come by.

USDA beef grades like Prime, Choice and Select help shoppers understand the quality of meat. Beef grading is optional and paid for by producers, unlike mandatory safety inspections. Knowing what the ...