Building A Beef Program
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"WHAT'S IN A LABEL"
Beef is an important ingredient in most restaurant operations, and smart purchasing leads to successful menu offerings. Your beef supplier will make every effort to ensure your orders are packed and shipped correctly, however, it is up to you to check your order when you receive it. Confirming your order, and checking to make sure that it has been properly handled will help you maintain product consistency in your restaurant.
Many operators aren't sure how to interpret the symbols and data on the labels on beef boxes. The following Q & As will identify the common symbols on beef boxes and give you some tips on what you need to look for when your beef is delivered.
Q. Now that I have chosen my beef program,
how can I make sure that I get what I ordered?
A. When receiving your beef deliveries, be sure
to check the following items:
- Check to make sure the product is at the correct temperature: 4ºC maximum.
- Are all boxes and cyrovac bags in good shape? i.e. no damaged or leaking bags.
- Check the invoice - do the weights on the box correspond to the invoice? (1)
- Do all the boxes contain the cuts you ordered, and are the boxes labelled properly? i.e. Grade designation must be clearly printed on the box as Canada A, AA, AAA if you are purchasing Canadian beef and that it contains the cuts you ordered. (2)
- You may want to consider purchasing packer "master cases" which have not been opened before delivery.
- Look for the health inspection crown symbol (5) - The oval with the word Canada and the plant number. This is your assurance the product was inspected in Canada for food safety.
Q. My boxes arrive without the grade marked on the outside - but I believe the product is Canadian beef because on the box it says "PRODUCT OF CANADA." Is this right? (3)
A. This can be confusing - federal legislation states that if a processor adds substantial value to imported beef (such as trimming or portioning the beef) it can now be classified as "PRODUCT OF CANADA." However, all graded Canadian beef must be marked as "CANADA GRADE A" or higher, AA or higher, AAA or higher, or Prime. If your program specifies an AAA grade of beef, the beef delivered to you should have the grade clearly labelled on the box. Look for the grade label to be sure you are getting what you ordered!
Q. What does the date on the box mean? (4)
A. This shows the date the product was processed - count forward from this date to determine the age of the product.
Q. A supplier has approached me with beef products that are vastly under priced compared to the price I am paying now for the same product - How should I deal with this?
A. The beef industry in Canada is a concentrated market with a limited number of packers and processors. Beef prices are only regulated by supply and demand so it is unlikely some suppliers would have product (especially fresh) that is far below market value for the same product. However, it is really a case of "buyer beware" - you need to ask this supplier why their product is undervalued. The majority of beef suppliers are honest, and will be happy to answer any of your questions. When comparing competitive bids, make sure you are comparing the same products. If you ordered fresh, confirm that the product is fresh, and has not been previously frozen and thawed.
Often, if the price is too good to be true, it isn't Canadian beef.
Q. If I think there is a problem, or mislabelling happening, what should I do?
A. If you suspect that what is labelled on the box or what you are receiving is being misrepresented, you do have a number of options.
- The easiest way to send a message to your supplier is to return the product and ask for product that is properly labelled.
- If you want to lodge a formal complaint on labelling, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency looks after consumer labelling issues. They can be reached by phone through your local federal offices or online. If you have a complaint about beef grading you can contact the Canadian Beef Grading Agency.
The restaurant business is too competitive, and your reputation too important for you to have the quality and consistency of your menu items fluctuating. Understanding and knowing what to look for with product labelling gives you the tools you need to ensure that you get the quality of product you expect.
