Indiana Egg Selling: Washed vs Unwashed?

[Allie Grace Sanders]

Hello, again... Not sure if I posted in the right forum or not, but I figured if I'm in the wrong spot, the mods will move me. Should I wash the eggs that I am going to be selling? Will people prefer washed or unwashed? If I choose to wash, what is the best way to do it? Baby wipes? Lukewarm water? ANY advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

-Allie

 

[Kiki]

In Texas you must wash eggs before selling.You might want to check with your local state department to see what the requirements are in order to sell.

Quick google search pulled this up:
State Requirements by Market for Products of Animal Origin - IN.gov
Indiana State Board of Animal Health - IN.gov

 

[EggSighted4Life]

You already received a really great answer.

That law truly is key!

As a personal consumer... for free to friends, family, and neighbors.. all eggs are UN washed here. I disclose it along with the fact that I don't wash before use but they should if it makes them more comfortable.

But I see definite difference in room stored verses fridge stored even after just a few days. So all get stored in the fridge for others consumption. I prefer unwashed eggs and used to buy from someone who did that only by request.

My sons' gf said that her mom's eggs all get washed immediately. And they were worried when they first got mine about how gross they would be. Well in the end... my unwashed eggs were cleaner than the other "washed" eggs. And that is one reason I don't wash the eggs... I found that if they have mud or other debris that washing didn't remove the stain from the shell.

Keeping nest boxes clean, dry and refreshed (with the right material), can have big impact. I live in the pacific north west where it can RAIN... I keep dry space between the coop door and lay boxes to help dry feet.

I don't mind a base of hay in lay boxes. But I like the nest part filled in with shavings. Hay is pretty dirt dusty and not very absorbent... to me. Though it does also work pretty well by itself...

 

[Kiki]

For what it's worth...I too do NOT wash my eggs but I don't sell them either.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

For what it's worth...I too do NOT wash my eggs but I don't sell them either.

So awesome though that you pointed to the right direction for selling purposes! So many people don't know or care that laws exist... and they are there for a reason.

I LOVE that you gave true correct information instead of just a personal opinion to which is better! It speaks volumes.

 

[Kiki]

So awesome though that you pointed to the right direction for selling purposes! So many people don't know or care that laws exist... and they are there for a reason.

I LOVE that you gave true correct information instead of just a personal opinion to which is better! It speaks volumes.

I used to not know that there were different laws for each state...I never really cared until I started reading so much here. A lot of people assume it's an across the board type thing when it comes to chickens but there is SO much that varies by state.
I could research this type of stuff 24/7. Don't get me started on the NPIP regulations.

 

[Kiki]

So awesome though that you pointed to the right direction for selling purposes! So many people don't know or care that laws exist... and they are there for a reason.

I LOVE that you gave true correct information instead of just a personal opinion to which is better! It speaks volumes.

 

[Bald Bee Man]

I got a pamphlet on my table from the state of Indiana and they require you to wash them. That's only if the health department happens to inspect you like in a farmers market or something. You also need in the state of Indiana egg permit which is $20 what to sell at a farmers market.

 

[sevenfatcows]

I wash all the eggs I sell and have tried a few different methods over the years. What finally has worked best for me is Quaternary Ammonium solution. For people who've ever worked in a food service where dishes are washed by hand, it's what's in that third sink of solution that the dishes are dipped in last. I buy the tablets (Steramine brand) and use just one per gallon. A gallon of solution will clean several dozen eggs. My eggs are already clean because we keep nest boxes and the coops and runs clean, so for the most part, all I need to do is let the eggs soak in the hot solution for about a minute and then let them dry. If a shell is stained, a light rub with a magic erase sponge will usually take care of that. Quaternary Ammonium solution is used by commercial hatcheries to prepare eggs for incubation and is preferred because it is not rinsed off; it leaves a protective coating on the shell. I have found that using it does seem to reduce the number of blood rings developed in incubating eggs. UC Davis has an article published on line with good information about different methods of egg cleansing and Quaternary Ammonium and its benefits are presented and contrasted with other methods. It's worth a read.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Hello, again... Not sure if I posted in the right forum or not, but I figured if I'm in the wrong spot, the mods will move me. Should I wash the eggs that I am going to be selling? Will people prefer washed or unwashed? If I choose to wash, what is the best way to do it? Baby wipes? Lukewarm water? ANY advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

-Allie

You should be able to find out what your state requires. I did find this : http://www.in.gov/legislative/iac/T03700/A00010.PDF. It talks about temperature, labeling and such but I saw nothing about washing. In California you don't have to wash eggs for sale. Washing eggs removes the "bloom" that is covering them and opens the shell up to absorption of bacteria. Please don't wash those eggs!