# What do check, leaker and dirty egg mean in US rules?

> US federal rules in 7 CFR 57.1 define a check as an egg with a broken or cracked shell whose membranes are intact and whose contents do not leak. A leaker has its shell and membranes broken, so the contents are exposed or can exude. A dirty egg has an unbroken shell with adhering dirt or foreign material. In Portuguese these are ovo trincado, ovo vazado and ovo sujo.

Updated: 2026-10-09 · URL: https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/us-egg-definitions · Português: https://vigiovo.com/recursos/definicoes-americanas-de-ovos.md

## Key takeaways

- A check is an egg with a broken or cracked shell, intact membranes and contents that do not leak: the Portuguese ovo trincado.
- A leaker is an egg with a broken shell and membranes, so the contents are exposed or can exude: the Portuguese ovo vazado.
- A dirty egg has an unbroken shell with adhering dirt or foreign material: the Portuguese ovo sujo.
- A clean and sound shell egg has a shell free of adhering dirt that is neither cracked nor broken.

## What does 7 CFR 57.1 call a check?

A check is an egg with a broken or cracked shell whose shell membranes are intact and whose contents do not leak. In Portuguese it is the [ovo trincado](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/glossary#check) (7 CFR 57.1).

The official definition reads: “Check means an egg that has a broken shell or crack in the shell but has its shell membranes intact and contents not leaking.” The difference from a leaker lies in the membranes, as the guide on [how to identify cracked eggs](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/how-to-identify-cracked-eggs) explains.

## What is a leaker?

A leaker is an egg with a crack or break in the shell and in the membranes, to the point that the contents are exposed or can seep through the shell. In Portuguese it is the [ovo vazado](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/glossary#leaker) (7 CFR 57.1).

The official definition reads: “Leaker means an egg that has a crack or break in the shell and shell membranes to the extent that the egg contents are exposed or are exuding or free to exude through the shell.” In practice, a leaker is told apart from a check by the broken membrane, as the [cracked, broken or leaking comparison](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/check-broken-or-leaker) shows.

## What does the dirty egg definition cover?

A dirty egg, or dirties, is an egg with an unbroken shell and adhering dirt or foreign material. In Portuguese it is the [ovo sujo](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/glossary#dirty-egg) (7 CFR 57.1).

The official definition reads: “Dirty egg or Dirties means an egg(s) that has an unbroken shell with adhering dirt, or foreign material.” Because the definition requires an unbroken shell, a dirty egg that is also cracked does not fall under dirty.

## When is an egg a clean and sound shell egg?

A clean and sound shell egg is an egg whose shell is free of adhering dirt or foreign material and is neither cracked nor broken. In Portuguese it would be an ovo de casca limpa e íntegra (7 CFR 57.1).

The official definition reads: “Clean and sound shell egg means any egg whose shell is free of adhering dirt or foreign material and is not cracked or broken.” It describes a shell with neither dirt nor cracks, so it does not overlap with check, leaker or dirty.

## How do the definitions work on the line?

In practical assessment, the definitions work as a sequence of questions about the shell and membranes. This is a working reading, not the text of the regulation.

1. Check whether the shell is broken or cracked, which is the first cut.
2. If it is, check whether the membranes are intact: intact means check, broken means leaker.
3. If the shell is unbroken, check for dirt: with adhering dirt or foreign material the egg is dirty; without it, it is clean and sound.

**Practical summary of the definitions, not the text of the regulation**

| Term | Shell | Membrane or dirt | In Portuguese |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Check | Broken or cracked | Membranes intact, no leaking | Ovo trincado |
| Leaker | Broken or cracked | Membranes broken, contents exposed | Ovo vazado |
| Dirty | Unbroken | Adhering dirt or foreign material | Ovo sujo |
| Clean and sound shell | Unbroken | No adhering dirt and no crack | Ovo de casca limpa e íntegra |

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a check and a leaker?

In a check the shell is broken or cracked, but the membranes are intact and the contents do not leak. In a leaker the shell and membranes are broken, so the contents are exposed or can exude (7 CFR 57.1).

### Is a dirty cracked egg a dirty egg?

No, under the US definition. Dirty requires an unbroken shell with adhering dirt. A dirty egg with a broken shell falls under check or leaker, depending on whether the membranes are intact or broken (7 CFR 57.1).

### Does 7 CFR 57.1 define a clean and sound shell?

Yes. A clean and sound shell egg is one whose shell is free of adhering dirt or foreign material and is neither cracked nor broken (7 CFR 57.1). In Portuguese it is an ovo de casca limpa e íntegra.

## Sources

- [7 CFR § 57.1 Definitions (Inspection of Eggs)](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-7/subtitle-B/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-57/subpart-A/section-57.1), U.S. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

## Read next

- [EU egg weight grades: XL, L, M and S](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/eu-egg-weight-grades.md) (Guide, 2026-10-09): The weight limits for each EU egg grade (XL, L, M and S), how to grade an egg that sits exactly on a limit, and what weight does not decide.
- [Poultry farm vs egg processing unit under RIISPOA](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/poultry-farm-vs-egg-processing-unit.md) (Guide, 2026-10-09): Under Brazil's RIISPOA, a poultry farm and an egg processing unit differ in where their eggs come from and what they do with them. See the art. 20 table.
- [How to identify cracked eggs: types, methods and rules](https://vigiovo.com/en/resources/how-to-identify-cracked-eggs.md) (Guide, 2026-10-09): What a cracked egg (check) is, how it differs from a leaker, which methods detect each kind of crack and where cracked eggs must go under the regulations.

## How Vigiovo helps

Vigiovo grades eggs on the conveyor as clean, dirty, cracked or unverified, in real time, with deterministic computer vision: every decision comes with the measurements behind it, on an ordinary CPU. https://vigiovo.com/en/how-it-works.md

4 min read.