When is egg pre-selection mandatory?

When is pre-selection mandatory?

Pre-selection is mandatory in two cases, according to MAPA's FAQ question 24:

• When the production flow is a continuous line, with the eggs washed before candling.
• When washing is done on equipment outside the line but happens together with grading, and the eggs coming back from the washer mix with those entering at the start of the process.

Outside these two cases, MAPA's answer does not make the step mandatory. It also does not say which equipment must do the removal: it describes the step, not the machine.

What is pre-selection for?

Pre-selection allows clean cracked eggs, with no break in the shell membrane, to be used for breaking (MAPA FAQ, question 24).

Dirty cracked eggs are removed at this point and discarded there (MAPA FAQ, question 24). Since they have no use as human food (MAPA FAQ, question 5), immediate discard is the expected destination. The discard rules are in disposing of dirty cracked eggs.

Can a clean cracked egg go to breaking without candling?

Yes. Clean cracked eggs removed at pre-selection may go to breaking without candling (MAPA FAQ, question 25). MAPA explains that Decree 9.013/2017 makes candling optional when there are technological particularities.

Since these eggs go to breaking, any unfit egg found there must be removed. MAPA says this is not a risk or a failure of the process, because candling was not performed (question 25). The full flow is in clean cracked eggs sent to breaking.

Why can't a cracked egg be washed?

Washing is mandatory only for clean and intact dirty eggs and for eggs destined for processing (MAPA FAQ, question 28). For eggs destined for breaking, the exception is cracked eggs: they cannot be washed and, if the shell is clean, they may be broken (MAPA FAQ, question 28).

So a cracked egg has its own destination, separate from a dirty intact egg, which does go through washing. The washing rules are in egg washing rules in Brazil.

What if the line does not fit these cases?

Without either case, pre-selection is no longer a requirement, but the destination of a dirty cracked egg does not change. It has no use as human food (MAPA FAQ, question 5) and must be discarded immediately or broken in a properly labelled container (MAPA FAQ, question 26).

Before deciding, map the real flow of your line, with the order of washing, candling and grading, and compare it with the two conditions above.

Frequently asked questions

Is pre-selection always mandatory?

No. According to MAPA (question 24), it is mandatory only when washing runs in a continuous line before candling, or when washing done off the line happens together with grading and the eggs coming back from the washer mix with those entering. Outside those cases, MAPA's answer does not make it mandatory.

Can a clean cracked egg be broken without candling?

Yes, when it was removed at pre-selection, according to MAPA (question 25). Candling can be optional when there are technological particularities. If an unfit egg appears at breaking, it must be removed, and this is not a failure of the process.

Where does a dirty cracked egg go?

It has no use as human food (MAPA FAQ, question 5). According to question 26, it must be discarded immediately or broken in a properly labelled container to ensure its proper destination. It also cannot 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)