Cleaning

Washing eggs to remove any dirt or stains. In modern laying houses, eggs are gathered shortly after they’re laid and moved to automated washing equipment. Strict federal regulations specify the procedures and cleaning compounds that may be used. Today most eggs are cleaned in mechanical egg washers employing sprayers, brushes, detergent-sanitizers, rinses and driers. Only clean eggs go to the market.

In washing, the bloom is removed. About 10% of egg packers apply an edible mineral oil to replace it.

– See Bloom, Oiling