Egg Quality Preserved After Exposure to Crack Detection Technology

US - Egg quality is preserved after exposure to egg crack detection technology, according to the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

20 July 2011

3 minute read

Microcracks in the shells of eggs pose a major food safety concern to consumers.

Research has shown that cracked eggs are more likely to harbour bacteria, including foodborne pathogens. A new technology – called the 'modified-pressure imaging system' – combines negative pressure with imaging and can accurately detect almost 100 per cent of cracked eggs.

The device, developed by Agricultural Research Service scientists in Athens, Georgia, was discussed in detail in 'A Better Way To Spot Eggshell Cracks', Agricultural Research, February 2009 [see link below]. It uses a negative-pressure chamber essentially to pull the eggshell outward very gently to clearly show any microcracks present in the shell.

The next step was to see whether quality suffered after eggs were subjected to the device.

Food technologist Deana Jones, research leader Kurt Lawrence, engineer Seung-Chul Yoon, and hyperspectral image specialist Gerald Heitschmidt, in the Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit, conducted a study to determine whether exposure to the modified-pressure imaging system had any effect on egg quality during storage.

Dr Jones explained: "After five weeks of refrigerated storage, only a slight difference in the amount of water in the whole egg was noted between imaged and non-imaged eggs.

"All other quality attributes were the same for imaged and non-imaged eggs."

These other quality attributes include the egg's weight, albumen (egg white) height, shell strength, vitelline (yolk) membrane strength and Haugh unit. A Haugh unit – considered by the egg industry as the 'gold standard' of interior egg quality – is a mathematical formula that takes into account the egg's weight and the height of the albumen.

Dr Jones added: "This information lets us know that the use of the modified-pressure imaging system to detect cracked eggs does not affect egg quality, making it an important tool for enhancing the safety of shell eggs for US retail sale."

Deana Jones is in the USDA-ARS Egg Safety and Quality Research Unit, Richard B. Russell Research Center, in Athens, Georgia, US.