A
B
B*
Quality
AA
Factor
Quality
Quality
Quality
Quality
Clean
Clean
Moderately stained localized area
SHELL
not more than 1/32 of shell
surface on moderately stained
scattered area not more than 1/16
of shell surface.
Unbroken
Unbroken
Unbroken
May be abnormal
Practically
Practically normal
normal
1/8 inch or
3/16 inch or less in
3/8 inch or less in depth. May
May be over 3/8 inch
AIR
less in
depth. May show
show unlimited movement and
in depth. May show
CELL
depth.
unlimited movement may be free or bubbly.
unlimited movement
May show
and may be free or
and may be free or
unlimited
bubbly.
bubbly. (AC)
movement
and may
be free and
bubbly.
Clear
Clear
Meat spots aggregating. No more
Small blood spots
WHITE
than 1/8 inch diameter may be
(aggregating not
present. May be weal and
more than 1/8 inch in
watery.
diameter) may be
present. (SS)
Outline
Outline may be fairly Outline may be plainly visible.
May show other
YOKE
slightly
well defined.
May appear dark, enlarged, and
serious defects that
defined.
Practically free from flattened. May show clearly
do not render the egg
Practically defects,
visible germ development by no
inedible (SYD)
Small blood spots
free from
blood due to such development.
May shoe definite but not serious aggregating not more
defects.
defects. Meat spots aggregating than 1/8 inch in
diameter may be
not more than 1/8 inch in
present.
diameter may be present.
For eggs with dirty or broken shells, the standards of quality provide three
NOTES: Individual B
additional qualities. These are:
quality eggs with an
air cell (AC) more
Dirty
Check
Leaker
than 1/8 inch in
Unbroken shell with
Checked or cracked Shell and shell membranes
broken so contents are leaking or depth, a small blood
adhering dirt or foreign but not leaking.
spot (SS), or serious
material; prominent
are free to leak.
yoke defects (SYD)
stains; or moderately
must be tallied
stained localized area
separately when
more than 1/32 of shell
verifying grade of the
surface or moderately
lot. Individual eggs
stained scattered area
not within the
more than 1/16 of shell
specifications in this
surface.
summary are to be
classified as less
quality eggs.
Figure 3-8. Summary of US standards for quality of individual shell eggs.
MD0713
3-27