Classification of Eggs

  1. Law
  2. Georgia Code
  3. Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics
  4. Standards, Labeling, and Adulteration of Food
  5. Eggs
  6. Classification of Eggs

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  1. Within the intent and purpose of this article, eggs classified as:
    1. Storage eggs shall be construed to mean eggs which have been in cold storage for a period of 31 days or longer; and
    2. Fresh eggs shall be construed to mean eggs which have been held in cold storage not longer than 30 days from the date they were packed.
  2. Each container of eggs must be labeled to show size or weight class and standard of quality.
  3. All eggs sold or offered for sale by dealers, as designated by this article, shall be graded as to net weight and standards of quality.
    1. The size or weight classes shall be:

      The weight tolerance, per dozen, where eggs are sold at retail, shall be not more than two eggs of the minimum net weight for individual eggs at the rate per dozen. Not more than 5 percent tolerance of the minimum net weight for individual eggs at the rate per dozen shall be allowed where eggs are sold in wholesale lots.

    2. The quality classifications for individual eggs shall be:
      1. Grade AA:
        1. Shell: clean, unbroken, practically normal.
        2. Air cell: one-eighth inch or less in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly.
        3. Yolk: outline slightly defined, practically free from defects.
        4. White: firm, clear.
      2. Grade A:
        1. Shell: clean, unbroken, practically normal.
        2. Air cell: three-sixteenths inch or less in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly.
        3. Yolk: outline fairly well defined, practically free from defects.
        4. White: reasonably firm, clear.
      3. Grade B:
        1. Shell: clean to slightly stained (but not more than one thirty-second of surface if localized or one-sixteenth of surface if scattered), unbroken, abnormal.
        2. Air cell: over three-sixteenths inch in depth, unlimited movement, and free or bubbly.
        3. Yolk: outline plainly visible, enlarged and flattened, clearly visible germ development but no blood, other serious defects.
        4. White: weak and watery, small blood and meat spots present (but not more than one-eighth inch in diameter aggregate).
  4. The U.S. Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs, Part 56, Subpart C, Paragraphs 56,216 and 56,217 established pursuant to the federal Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 are adopted by reference.
  5. All of the classifications indicated in this Code section shall be determined by candling.

Min. Net Wt. Size or Minimum Net For Indv. Min. Net Weight Wt. Per Eggs at Rate Wt. Per Classes Doz. (Oz.) Per Doz. (Oz.) 30 Doz. (Lbs.) ------- ---------- -------------- -------------- Jumbo 30 29 56 Extra Large 27 26 50 1/2 Large 24 23 45 Medium 21 20 39 1/2 Small 18 17 34 Pee Wee 15 14 28

(Ga. L. 1935, p. 364, § 1; Ga. L. 1937, p. 639, § 1; Ga. L. 1953, Jan.-Feb. Sess., p. 49, §§ 1-3; Ga. L. 1956, p. 21, § 1; Ga. L. 1958, p. 27, § 1; Ga. L. 1991, p. 1115, § 1; Ga. L. 2015, p. 5, § 26/HB 90.)

The 2015 amendment, effective March 13, 2015, part of an Act to revise, modernize, and correct the Code, inserted "and" at the end of paragraph (a)(1).

Code Commission notes.

- Pursuant to Code Section 28-9-5, in 1996, "three-sixteenths" was substituted for "three-sixteenth" in divisions (c)(2)(B)(ii) and (c)(2)(C)(ii), and "one thirty-second" was substituted for "one-thirtysecond" in division (c)(2)(C)(i).

OPINIONS OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

Eggs sold by producer at retail must be classified.

- Eggs sold at retail by a producer, including those sold directly to local customers, are subject to the classification requirements. 1970 Op. Att'y Gen. No. U70-98.

RESEARCH REFERENCES

Am. Jur. 2d.

- 35A Am. Jur. 2d, Food, § 33.

C.J.S.

- 36A C.J.S., Food, § 14.


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