Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-07
EGGS BROKEN BY
FAULTY METHODS
OF PACKING, ETC.
New York Alone Loses Annual
Iy 16,66S,267 Eggs, Accord
ing to Report of Study
of Shipment.


crates and skipped arrive at their des-
tination in bad order. according to fig
ures Just obtained by the food research
laboratory Of the United States depart
ment of agriculture. This means that
on an average 2i96 eggs out of every
30 dozen packed and shipped arrive at
the market either as cracks, dents. leak
ers. or Washers. These figures were OBJ
tanned as a result Of the individual ex-
animation OF 900 dozen eggs before and
after shipment. and a further general
study Of the condition of Il carloads, or
over 10000 dozen eggs shipped from IS
packing houses in the corn-belt to 10 DIFF
ferent markets on the eastern coast.
The results Of this study have been for
INFLATED In n preliminary report which Is
submitted to the Joint committee repre-
senting the egg shippers, the railroads
and the United States department of ag-
riculture.
These figures mean that in New York
city alone 1865. 267 eggs arrive al the
railroad and other terminals in bad con-
dition This represents a breakage Of
1856 eggs in each of the i,6GGll7 3O-dozen
cases of eggs which represent New York
citys annual receipts.
CARELESS PACKING RESPONSIBLE
FOR BREAKAGE.
To determine whether the egg break
age was due principally to the Earring
OF the eggs received in railroad cars, or
to carelessness on the part Of the pack
ers, the departments Investigators per-
sonally unpacl1ed at the packing house
over 900 cases Of eggs, containing 6,00o
dozen. Every egg was examined and
tho location in the cardboard partitions
of each broken eggs on each layer Of
eggs was charted to determine whether
brcakage was unusually heavy in any
particular point Of the box. It was
found, however, that the breakage in the
packing houses was distributed through
out the case.
AS a result OF this examination of pack
ed cases egg by egg, It was found that
1922 eggs per case on an average, or
534 per cent. had cracked shells before
they were put on the railroad cars.
These eggs were then repacked and ship
ped TO distant points, and again exam
ined egg by egg on their arrival. It was
found that during the transfer to the
unloading, there was an additional break
age OF 515 eggs per case on an average
which made a total of 24o6 eggs in bad
| order out Of every 80 dozen that ar
rived. In other words G94 per cent. Of
all eggs shipped In car lots are received
with damaged shells.
These figures. ho-vsve- do net at all
represent the actus. total damage from
breakage. PRACTICABLE every leaker and
every mashed egg IN a case lowers the
value OF several eggs around or below It,
| because each leaking egg soils a sum, E
of other eggs and reduces their market
value. Further II does not include any
deterioration or spoilaSe OF whole eggs
on accoun. Of heat or faulty refrlgera-
tior.
! HOW no REDUCE THE LOSSES.
| AS n result OF the study. the depart
ments specialists have issued the fol-
lowing preliminary suggestions for the
considerable of the egg shipping Indus
( try.
/ d. The package. Use only sound,
strong. new cases and new lids. Never
reuse filters and fats These are the
cardboard partitions in the cases. The
specialists find that filters that have once
, been used are very apt to have their
ears" as the little projections that
/ keep the eggs from the sides of the
case are called, bent or weakened so
that the egg may hit the box when tho
| box IS jarred or moved.
C). Packing the eggs rse more care
| in handling eggs 10 prevent cracked
shells; do not permit eggs already crack
ed to enter the case, and establish an
inspection system to ensure obedience In
your Gambling room The threadbare ex-
cuse OF d!sobedient labor can no longer
he accepted in this day of Scientific
management" In the final analysis 1t is
the manager who is most commonly in
| efficient-not the labor
(S). Slowing Handle the cases more
carefully. Do not walk on them SEQ
that the car Is IN good repair with
drain pipes clear Make a tight load.
The Injunction about the drain pipes IS
particularly important to prevent .eak-
age OF water from the refrEoratlon. An
egg that has once gotten wet will snoii
very rapidly, because water viii wash
or the substance that terds TO prevent
bacteria or air entering the egr.
N. Rracing in the car. Take no
chances on the shifting CT the lead ir
the car. Brace Il. anC IL any brace looks
frai. make it stronger. Never put a lay
er az cases on top of tn, load without
, hT3crE 1t in some way, Do not drive
nails into the insulated car.
Co. Buf:ing around the caues II stray,
Is used to protect ere cases from the
ends or sides ot :he car, II must be
tanped into place by force greater
than would he eXerted by the shifting
Of the load during transit. If this Is not
done. further compression of the 4traw
will occur. and this will give added room
for shifting. This objection does not an
ply to racks.
The reason for this car- on is that GER
tain shippers relied on straw around the
edSs of the load to protect 1t from shock.
The straw was quickly compressed and
gave the cases much more room to Shift
with the result that the cases on the end
showed high percentage OF broken and
smashed eggs.
The report to the committee is prel,n.
mary only The SPECIALISTS Of the de-
partment, during the coming shipping
season. VIII conduct extensive shpping
experiments, commencing with Texas
and extending through Oklahoma Kan
sas' Missouri, Iowa. Illinois, and MINI.
esota the great egg-producing States OF
the corn belt, Supervised shipments vii
he made from each ~ these States tc
distant markets. and the hreakage care