How to dispose of dirty cracked eggs correctly

Why does a dirty cracked egg have no use?

Because RIISPOA treats it as unfit for human consumption as it is. It lists eggs with a broken shell that are dirty (art. 500, VI) and eggs with a broken shell and membranes (art. 500, VII) as unfit. MAPA is direct: these eggs have no use at all as human food (question 5).

This is different from a dirty egg with an unbroken shell, which can go to processing with mandatory washing. The difference is the crack, and the full rule is in dirty eggs.

Where does a dirty cracked egg go?

It must be discarded immediately at the establishment. MAPA also accepts breaking it into a labelled container, to ensure its proper destination (question 26).

Neither option brings the egg back into the food chain: it cannot be washed or used in egg products.

How do you keep dirty cracked eggs out of washing and grading?

With a pre-selection step that removes them before the washer and candling, when the flow requires it. Pre-selection is mandatory when the line is continuous and washing comes before candling, or when washing runs alongside grading and the eggs coming back from the washer mix with the eggs entering the line (question 24). When it is done, the dirty cracked eggs are removed there and discarded on the spot.

1. Run pre-selection before the washer and candling when the line is continuous (question 24).
2. Remove the dirty cracked eggs at pre-selection and discard them in the same place.
3. Separate the flow for each type of egg to keep it traceable (question 27).
4. Record the flows in the self-control programme (Programa de Autocontrole) and in PGA-SIGSIF (question 27).

A camera such as Vigiovo marks each dirty and cracked egg and records its class per egg. It does not replace pre-selection where that step is mandatory.

What about a cracked egg with a clean shell?

It does not have to be discarded. A cracked egg with a clean shell and an intact shell membrane goes to processing as soon as possible (RIISPOA, art. 227). Dirt is what separates the two cases: a clean cracked egg goes to processing, and a dirty one is discarded.

If the shell membrane is also broken, the egg is a leaker and falls under the rule for unfit eggs (RIISPOA, art. 500, VII). For how to spot cracks, see how to identify cracked eggs.

Frequently asked questions

Can a dirty cracked egg be used?

Not as human food. MAPA says it has no use at all as human food and must be discarded immediately (question 5). It also cannot be washed or used in egg products (RIISPOA, art. 228).

Can a dirty cracked egg be broken instead of discarded?

Yes, MAPA accepts breaking it into a labelled container to ensure its proper destination (question 26). The contents still cannot be used in egg products (RIISPOA, art. 228).

Does a cracked egg with a clean shell get discarded?

Not necessarily. If the shell is clean and the shell membrane intact, it goes to processing as soon as possible (RIISPOA, art. 227). Cracked eggs must not be washed (MAPA FAQ, question 28).

Sources

1. Perguntas e respostas sobre a Portaria MAPA nº 612/2022 (versão de 05/06/2023), Ministério da Agricultura e Pecuária (MAPA)
2. Decreto nº 9.013/2017 (RIISPOA), Presidência da República (Brasil)