How is milk graded in the United States?

In the United States, milk is graded primarily through the USDA grading system. This system evaluates milk based on several criteria including bacterial counts, somatic cell counts, and overall quality factors that ensure the safety and wholesomeness of the milk supplied to consumers. The USDA has established specific grades, such as Grade A and Grade B, which dictate how milk can be used, with Grade A milk meeting stricter health and quality standards required for fluid consumption.

The grading system is essential for maintaining quality across the dairy industry, ensuring that all milk products are safe for consumption and meet consumer expectations for freshness and taste. This structured approach to grading is vital for regulating the dairy market and protecting public health. Other methods like taste tests or farmer surveys do not provide the rigorous, scientifically-based assessment of milk quality that the USDA grading system accomplishes.