Eggs you buy at the store often arrive there within four days of being laid. Every year the hens produce nearly a half billion dozen eggs. These processed eggs are used in the manufacturing of many foods, including mayonnaise, noodles and baked goods. Processed eggs are also used to make other items such as pharmaceuticals, shampoo, pet foods and adhesives. The eggs set aside for these uses are sent to egg processing plants.
Special machines break eggs by the thousands and can separate yolks from whites.
Whole or separated, the eggs are then pasteurised and sent in bulk form to bakeries and other customers of processed products. There are three possible grades for eggs. Agriculture and Agri-food Canada sets the regulations and standards for grading.