3-21. CANDLED APPEARANCE
a. AA Quality. The shell must be clean, unbroken, and practically normal. The
air cell must not exceed 1/8 inch in depth, may show unlimited movement, and may be
free or bubbly. The white must be clear and firm so that the yolk outline is only slightly
defined when the egg is twirled before the candling light. The yolk must be practically
free from apparent defects.
b. A Quality. The shell must be clean, unbroken, and practically normal. The
air cell must not exceed 3/16 inch in depth, may show unlimited movement, and may be
free or bubbly. The white must be clear and at least reasonably firm so that the yolk
outline is only fairly well defined when the egg is twirled before the candling light. The
yolk must be practically free from apparent defects.
c. B Quality. The shell must be unbroken, may be abnormal, and may have
slightly stained areas. Moderately stained areas are permitted if they do not cover more
than 1/32 of the shell surface, if localized, or 1/16 of the shell surface if scattered. Eggs
having shells with prominent stains or adhering dirt are not permitted. The shell must
not appreciably detract from the appearance of the egg.
(1) The air cell may be over 3/16 inch in depth, may show unlimited
movement, and may be free or bubbly.
(2) The white may be weak and watery so that the yolk outline is plainly
visible when the egg is twirled before the candling light.
(3) The yolk may appear dark, enlarged, and flattened, and may show
clearly visible germ development but no blood due to such development. It may show
other serious defects that do not render the egg inedible. Small blood spots or meat
spots (aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter) may be present.
d. Dirty. An individual egg that has an unbroken shell with adhering dirt or
foreign material, prominent stains, or moderate stains covering more than 1/32 of the
shell surface, if localized, or 1/16 of the shell surface, if scattered.
e. Check. An individual egg that has a broken shell or crack in the shell but with
its shell membranes intact and its contents do not leak. A Check is considered to be
lower in quality that a Dirty.
f. Leaker. An individual egg that has a crack or break in the shell and shell
membranes to the extent that the egg contents are exuding or free to exude through the
shell.
MD0713
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