Setting the Standard
Underpinning the EQA program is the internationally recognized Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading system, which received the prestigious International Meat Secretariat Millennium Prize for Meat Science and Technology. The MSA system relates consumer feedback to beef production and processing pathways to ensure products meet consumer eating quality expectations.
Making the Grade
The EQA program is unique because it assigns a meat quality score to each beef cut and cooking method. MSA graders collate information from the cattle supplier, slaughterhouse and chiller assessments. To determine the meat quality score, they enter the data into a handheld computer that calculates the interactive effects of all factors related to eating quality. The meat quality score can be calculated for aging periods from five to 30 days.