How can you tell if buying Black Angus Beef in a supermarket is the real thing I was told that only white cows with black spots are the real Angus What should I look for?

Answer 1

You can't tell if you're buying real Angus beef in the superstore. When the hide comes off, all beef animals look the same. The only way you can "tell" if you're eating Angus beef is if the label on the cellophane-wrapped beef says CAB Certified, however this is also unreliable (see the related question posted below). Holsteins (those white cows with black spots) are mostly used for hamburger and sausages. The Holstein steers that are fattened up for market are also likely candidates to have their steaks on the supermarket meat shelf. However the cows, the mature female bovines, are too old and meat too tough to be used as steaks or roasts. Younger cattle are primarily best for steaks and roasts.

If you want to know where your beef comes from and whether it REALLY is Angus, then buy local beef, don't buy from your supermarket anymore. With buying from local producers, you have a much lower chance of getting jipped than you would buying beef that you have no idea about.

As for these white cows with black spots being the real Angus, this is NOT true. Holsteins are an entirely different breed, and Angus are an entirely different breed. But I can see what you're saying when you know you don't know if you're eating Holstein beef or Angus beef or even Simmental beef. Check out the related question that answered in a similar (but longer) way below.