It shall be unlawful to sell, offer for sale, or use as human food any eggs or products containing eggs which have been broken or separated by a process that does not permit the inspection of each individual egg after it is broken or that allows the egg meat and shell to commingle. For the purposes of this rule, egg products sold under a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) seal from a USDA approved and inspected egg products plant shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this rule for use as human food.
SUMMARY OF GRADES
The summary of Washington state consumer grades for shell eggs follows as Table 1 and Table 2 of this section:
TABLE 1 - SUMMARY OF WASHINGTON CONSUMER GRADES FOR SHELL EGGS
Washington State Consumer Grades (Origin) | Quality Required (1) | Tolerance Permitted (2) |
Percent | Quality |
Grade AA | 87 percent AA | Up to 13 Not over 5 | A or B (5) Checks (6) |
Grade A | 87 percent A or better | Up to 13 Not over 5 | B Checks (6) |
Grade B | 90 percent B or better | Not over 10 | Checks |
Washington State Consumer Grades (Destination) | Quality Required (1) | Tolerance Permitted (3) |
Percent | Quality |
Grade AA | 72 percent AA | Up to 28 (4) Not over 7 | A or B (5) Checks (6) |
Grade A | 82 percent A or better | Up to 18 Not over 7 | B (5) Checks (6) |
Grade B | 90 percent B or better | Not over 10 | Checks |
(1) In lots of two or more cases see Table 2 of this section for tolerances for an individual case within a lot.
(2) For the Washington consumer grades (at origin), a tolerance of 0.50 percent leakers, dirties, or loss (due to meat or blood spots) in any combination is permitted, except that such loss may not exceed 0.30 percent. Other types of loss are not permitted.
(3) For the Washington consumer grades (destination), a tolerance of 1 percent leakers, dirties, or loss (due to meat or blood spots) in any combination is permitted, except that such loss may not exceed 0.30 percent. Other types of loss are not permitted.
(4) For Washington grade AA destination, at least 10 percent must be A quality or better.
(5) For Washington grade AA or A at origin and destination within the tolerances permitted for B quality, not more than 1 percent may be B quality due to air cells over 3/4 inch, blood spots (aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter), or serious yolk defects.
(6) For Washington grades AA or A jumbo size eggs, the tolerance for checks at origin and destination is 7 percent and 9 percent respectively.
TABLE 2 - TOLERANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CASE WITHIN A LOT
Washington Consumer Grade | Case Quality | Origin (Percent) | Destination (Percent) |
Grade AA | AA (min) A or B Check (max) | 77 13 10 | 62 28 10 |
Grade A | A (min) B Check (max) | 77 13 10 | 72 18 10 |
Grade B | B (min) Check (max) | 80 20 | 80 20 |