Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department › Chapter 36 - Egg Handlers › Rule 21-36.13 - Iowa Grades

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
The Iowa standards for consumer grades, quality, and weight
				classes for shell eggs are as follows:
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP
TABLE 1
IOWA SPECIFICATIONS
QUALITY FACTOR
AA QUALITY
A QUALITY
B QUALITY
Shell
Clean
Unbroken
Practically normal
Clean
Unbroken
Practically normal
Clean to slightly stained*
Unbroken
Abnormal
Air Cell
1/8 inch or less in depth Unlimited movement and free
							 or bubbly
3/16 inch or less in depth Unlimited movement and
							 free or bubbly
Over 3/16 inch in depth Unlimited movement and free
							 or bubbly
White
Clear
Firm
Clear
Reasonably firm
Weak and watery
Small blood and meat spots present**
Yolk
Outline slightly defined Practically free from
							 defects
Outline fairly well defined
Practically free from defects
Outline plainly visible Enlarged and flattened
							 Clearly visible germ development but no blood Other serious defects
* Moderately stained areas permitted (1/32 of surface
							 if localized, or 1/16 if scattered).
** If they are small (aggregating not more than 1/8
							 inch in diameter).
For eggs with dirty or broken shells, the standards
							 of quality provide two additional qualities. These are:
Dirty
Check
Unbroken
Adhering dirt or foreign material, prominent stains,
							 moderate stained areas in excess of B quality
Broken or cracked shell but membranes intact, not
							 leaking***
*** Leaker has broken or cracked shell and membranes
							 and contents leaking or free to leak.
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF IOWA CONSUMER GRADES FOR SHELL EGGS
U.S. CONSUMER GRADE
(ORIGIN)
QUALITY REQUIRED1
TOLERANCE
							 PERMITTED2
Percent
Quality
Grade AA
87 percent AA
Up to 13
Not over 5 checks6
A or B5
Grade A
87 percent A or better
Up to 13
Not over 5 checks6
B5
Grade B
90 percent B or better
Not over 10 checks
U.S. CONSUMER GRADE
(DESTINATION)
QUALITY REQUIRED1
TOLERANCE PERMITTED3
Percent
Quality
Grade AA
72 percent AA
Up to 284
Not over 7 checks6
A or B5
Grade A
82 percent A or better
Up to 18
Not over 7 checks6
B5
Grade B
90 percent B or better
Not over 10 checks
1 In lots of two or more cases, see
				Table 3 of this rule for tolerances for an individual case within a lot.
2 For the U.S. Consumer Grades (at
				origin), a tolerance of 0.50 percent leakers, dirties, or loss (due to meat or
				blood spots) in any combination is permitted, except that such loss may not
				exceed 0.30 percent. Other types of loss are not permitted.
3 For the U.S. Consumer Grades
				(destination), a tolerance of 1 percent leakers, dirties, or loss (due to meat
				or blood spots) in any combination is permitted, except that such loss may not
				exceed 0.30 percent. Other types of loss are not permitted.
4 For U.S. Grade AA at destination,
				at least 10 percent must be A quality or better.
5 For U.S. Grade AA and A at origin
				and destination within the tolerances permitted for B quality, not more than 1
				percent may be B quality due to air cells over 3/8 inch, blood spots
				(aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter), or serious yolk
				defects.
6 For U.S. Grades AA and A jumbo
				size eggs, the tolerance for checks at origin and destination is 7 percent and
				9 percent, respectively.
TABLE 3
TOLERANCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CASE WITHIN A LOT
U.S. CONSUMER GRADE
CASE QUALITY
ORIGIN (Percent)
DESTINATION (Percent)
Grade AA
AA (Minimum)
A or B
Checks (Maximum)
77
13
10
62
28
10
Grade A
A (Minimum)
B
Checks (Maximum)
77
13
10
72
18
10
Grade B
B (Minimum)
Checks (Maximum)
80
20
80
20
Note: Substitution of higher qualities for lower qualities is
				permitted.
TABLE 4
IOWA WEIGHT CLASSES FOR CONSUMER GRADES FOR SHELL EGGS
SIZE OR WEIGHT CLASS
MINIMUM NET WEIGHT PER DOZEN
MINIMUM NET WEIGHT PER 30 DOZEN
MINIMUM WEIGHT FOR INDIVIDUAL EGGS AT RATE PER
						  DOZEN
OUNCES
POUNDS
OUNCES
Jumbo
30
56
29
Extra Large
27
50½
26
Large
24
45
23
Medium
21
39½
20
Small
18
34
17
Peewee
15
28
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These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 196 as
				amended by 2011 Iowa Acts, House File 453.