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In today's rapid pace world, shopping at home can be both convenient
and timesaving. And for many older adults, stay-at-home parents,
or shut-ins, it may be the only convenient way to shop. Many
of these shoppers buy their groceries over the Internet. However,
some consumers purchase meat and poultry from dealers who knock on their
door.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) receives
many complaints from consumers after the purchase has taken
place because the quality of the meat or poultry is not what
they expected it to be. These are often not the delicious cuts
of meat touted by the salesman. Unfortunately, many unhappy
customers have little or no information about the door-to-door
sales company, so redress is difficult or impossible.
However, if they've done their homework, consumers can be pleased
with door-to-door meat and poultry sales. Before making a decision
they might later regret, consumers need to find out important
information about the dealer and the company.
The USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline can help potential buyers
do their homework by giving them tips to look for when buying
meat and poultry from door-to-door salesmen. And in some instances,
if the consumer has information about the company, help can
be obtained after the sale as well.
Inspection and Grading of Meat and Poultry
Although inspection of meat and poultry is mandatory, grading
is voluntary. All meat and poultry transported and sold in interstate
commerce must be inspected by the Federal government. The box
or package of meat must bear the plant's inspection number.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service carries out USDA's responsibilities
under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products
Inspection Act. These laws protect consumers by ensuring that
meat and poultry products are wholesome, unadulterated, and
properly marked labeled and packaged.
State inspection is mandatory for meat and poultry being transported
and sold within a State. The State inspection programs must
enforce requirements at least equal to those of Federal inspection
laws.
Companies must pay to have USDA grade their meat and poultry
products. USDA grades are based on nationally uniform Federal
standards of quality and are assigned by the USDA Agricultural
Marketing Service.
For example, the highest beef grades are Prime,
Choice, and Select. Lower grades—Standard,
Commercial, Utility, Cutter, and Canner—are
ground or used in processed meat products. The top grades for
lamb and veal are Prime, Choice,
and Good. Pork is not graded. Grade A
is the top poultry grade.
Recommendations from the USDA Meat and Poultry
Hotline
Before buying meat and poultry from a door-to-door dealer, become
an informed consumer by finding out important information about
the company and dealer. The Hotline recommends these tips to
keep in mind.
Check the dealer. Ask for literature and take
plenty of time to read it. If you lack the time to check into
the distribution practices of the company, consider not purchasing
from them.
Ask for a brochure. Reputable companies will have
a local sales office with a published price list that includes
the address and phone number of the company. Along with the
price list, they may offer recipes and nutrition information
about their products.
Read the label on the package or carton before you
buy. Insist on having the establishment number where the meat
or poultry was inspected. USDA- and State-inspected products
are required to give information about the product on the label.
On raw products, species, cut, net weight, ingredients statement,
and safe handling statement are required. No ingredient may
be added to fresh meat or poultry unless the ingredient is listed
on the label. Some companies may offer less tender cuts or lower
grades of meat or poultry for lower prices because the product
has been tenderized with a marinade or flavoring agent. Beware
of any dealer who wants you to purchase bulk quantities of meat
and poultry that are not properly labeled. Always ask the dealer
to leave the box or labeling information if individual products
are not labeled.
Check for grading information on the product.
Companies can chose to have the meat and poultry that they sell
graded by USDA. This is the only mark of identity you have for
knowing the quality familiar to you. If a meat or poultry product
is graded by USDA, there must be a USDA grade shield or mark
on the carcass, package, or product label. Only the official
USDA grade can be used as a guide to the quality of the meat.
Meat and poultry companies may label products with a company's
private quality label. If a product is labeled with a term such
as "restaurant quality," ask the company which USDA
grade is comparable.
Understand the cuts. Know which cut of meat or
poultry you are buying when making a meat or poultry purchase
decision. Check the label for proper identification of the cut
of meat or poultry you are purchasing. For example, you don't
want to pay top dollar for tenderloin and receive a cheaper
cut such as a shoulder roast.
Ask to see a retail permit. Remember, in most
states, salespersons are required to have a State license or
permit to sell products door-to-door. Ask to see the salesperson's
license to sell.
Always check to be sure the product has been transported
in a refrigerated vehicle. Never buy meat or poultry products
that are carried in an unrefrigerated truck or car trunk. The
product may be unsafe because bacteria that cause illness multiply
rapidly above 40 °F.
You have 3 days to cancel your sale. The Federal
Trade Commission Cooling-Off Rule gives you 3 days to cancel
purchases that are made in your home or at a location that is
not the permanent place of business or local address of the
seller. The Cooling-Off Rule does not cover sales of $25 or
under. Under the rule, the salesperson must orally inform you
of your cancellation rights at the time of sale. You also must
be given two copies of a cancellation form and a copy of your
contract or receipt. The contract or receipt should be dated,
show the name and address of the seller, and explain your right
to cancel. The contract or receipt must be in the same language
used in the sales presentation.
Canceling the sale. Remember that using a charge
card does not guarantee a refund. To cancel a sale, sign and
date one copy of the cancellation form. Make sure the envelope
is postmarked before midnight of the third business day after
the contract date. Saturday is considered a business day, but
Sunday and Federal holidays are not. Because proof of the mailing
date and receipt are important, consider sending the cancellation
form by certified mail. Keep the other copy of the cancellation
form for your records.
If you have a complaint about the company. Try
to resolve your dispute with the seller first. Make sure you
act quickly. Send a letter of complaint. A letter is important
because it puts your complaint on record and lets the company
know you are serious about pursuing the dispute. Be sure you
keep a copy for your records.
In general, beware of claims that are too good to be
true. They usually are.
For Additional Help:
- Check with your State Department of Agriculture to see
if the company is licensed.
- If you encounter "bait and switch" practices,
contact your local or State Consumer Protection Office.
- Call your local Better Business Bureau to help you establish
if you are doing business with a reputable firm or if complaints
have been filed against the firm or individual.
- Call USDA's Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854);
TTY, 1 (800) 256-7072. It is staffed by home economists,
registered dietitians, and food technologists from 10 a.m.
to 4 p.m. Eastern time year round. An extensive selection
of food safety recordings can be heard 24 hours a day using
a touch-tone phone.
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Last Modified:
August 28, 2007 |
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