ARTICLE UPDATE: Beef Grades

[Huskee]

Our Editorial Director, Dave Joachim, has updated our Beef Grades article to include the new Wagyu certification standards from the USDA.

Updates:

• In 2024, USDA releases “Upper Prime” tier for American Wagyu producers (including crossbreeds like Wagyu and Angus) to promote their beef as a step above the Prime grade
• In May 2025, USDA releases “Authentic Wagyu” certification program as a collab with the American Wagyu Association (AWA)
• The new standards certify FullBlood (100%) Wagyu; Purebred Wagyu (minimum 93.75% Wagyu); and Wagyu-Influenced (crossbreeds)
• To get certified, animals must be registered with the AWA; genetics must be verified through DNA testing; and producers must keep detailed records and meet USDA audit standards for traceability from ranch to plate. The meat must also meet the quality standards of the Authentic Wagyu program, which is set at a marbling score of 800 or higher (a level above the standard USDA Prime grade).
• In September 2025, Vermont Wagyu became the first US ranch to ship certified FullBlood 100% Wagyu.

[SheilaAnn]

Fascinating…….

[WI Bubba]

It just reminds me of how much I miss Click Beef.

[Huskee]

Me too. And now Wild Fork won't deliver to me.

[Smoker_Boy]

...

[FireMan]

I wouldn't dare pull out wagyu here cuz it would either be boiled or fried to death

[Michael_in_TX]

There is something nagging me a little about this. This is a good thing as there is much confusion the in the market over terms. Yet, there is a fine line between clarifying something and promoting it. I don't think that line has been crossed, but it is there.

[texastweeter]

It WILL however raise the price due to the additional testing done.

[Huskee]

Who is near to promoting what? Want to make sure I'm picking up what you're throwing down.

[Michael_in_TX]

Huskee If you differentiate a quality grade, you draw attention to it....which is fine. The other edge of that sword is that trade groups can now market that. The USDA is not promoting; but the trade groups can influence the USDA into creating an environment for that. I don't think this is that at all.

[jayjordan]

I have never seen a cut of beef labeled "Upper Prime."

[texastweeter]

CAB Prime is the top tier of prime, just like CAB is the top two tiers of hoice.

[surfdog]

If I’m not purchasing prime, I’m getting CAB/Upper 2/3.

The store closest to me only occasionally has prime it seems…but always has upper 2/3.

OTOH, if I’m willing to drive an extra few miles, another local shop seems to always have lots of prime available in multiple cuts.

Neither though specify where that prime sits in the scale…only that it’s prime.

[HawkerXP]

Me thinks this is a bunch of bull!

[texastweeter]

Whelp those subsets of beef just got a boost in price...

[jtw]

but on the other side, all the "wagyu" claimants just got snapped back to reality.... frankly i was getting a little tired of rolling my eyes at seeing wagyu on menus everywhere that i KNOW isn't really wagyu.