Egg marking: category, type, weight

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Coming to the store, almost every person is faced with the question of how to choose the right fresh tasty egg for breakfast. There are usually several types of eggs on the shelves. Egg labeling will help you figure out which egg will benefit.

According to the requirements of Russian legislation, all eggs produced by a poultry farm must be labeled accordingly. A stamp is placed on the side of each egg.

Marking

Marking consists of two parts. The first character is the age of the product (maximum shelf life), the second character of the egg marking is the category (egg size).

The first marking character is Russian letters, the second is a number.

Types of eggs

There are two types of eggs: diet and table.

Table eggs are marked with the letter "C". They are usually marked with blue or purple ink. The absence of marking on the egg is acceptable if the shelf life is marked on the packaging (container) for storing and transporting eggs. The only condition: the expiration date should not be inside the container itself, it shouldput in a conspicuous place. Table eggs are stored at room temperature for up to 25 days, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three months.

Dietary egg marking - the letter "D". Stamped in red ink. A diet egg is not a particular type or variety of eggs as some customers believe. From table it is distinguished by exceptional freshness. Such an egg cannot withstand temperatures below zero and must be sold within seven days. The day the hen laid the egg is not taken into account. Due to the short shelf life and implementation, dietary eggs always remain fresh. A distinctive feature is the possibility of eating dietary eggs raw. The protein in such an egg has a dense structure, and the yolk is dense, does not hang out, the air sac inside the egg is about four millimeters in height.

Note: Diet fresh eggs are always hard to shell.

Egg categories

The second part in egg markings is a number or letter indicating the category or size of the egg.

According to state standards, it is customary to distinguish categories marked "1", "2", "3", "B", "O":

• "3". The smallest egg, the third category, its weight ranges from 35 to 45 grams.
• "2" is the second category of eggs ranging in size from 45 to 55 grams.
• "1" is the first category of eggs with a weight of 55 to 65 grams.
• "O" - selected egg. Relatively large, its weight can be from 65 to 75 grams.
• "B" - the highest category of giant eggs. Themapproximate size starts from 75 grams.

Sometimes you can see the inscription "organic" on egg packages. This does not apply to the Russian classification and is printed by manufacturers to draw the attention of buyers to the fact that the hens who laid the egg ate organic feed. There is no state control over this information.

Example

What does the marking on eggs "SV" mean? This is a table egg of the highest category. That is, this egg can be stored up to 25 days indoors and has a weight of more than 75 grams. By the same principle, the marking "D2" will mean that it has a shelf life of no more than a week, and the size ranges from 45-55 grams.

Marking imported eggs

Often on the shelves, especially in border towns, you can see the markings "S" - "XL". What does it mean? The fact is that most countries in Europe and the world use category designations in Latin, and the number in the marking indicates the country in which the egg was produced.

So, according to international standards, "1" means that the country of production is Belgium, "2" - Germany, "3" - France, and the Netherlands is indicated by six.

Latin letters have the following meanings:

• "S" is a small egg less than 53 grams;
• "M" is an egg, whose weight can be 53-63 grams;
• "L" are eggs weighing between 63 and 73 grams;
• "XL" is the largest egg comparable to the Russian highest category. Its weight starts at 73 grams.

Cookbooks default to category 3 or "S" size eggs.