Iowa Admin. Code r. 21-36.13

Current through Regsiter Vol. 46, No. 26, June 12, 2024

Rule 21-36.13 - Iowa grades

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	-

These rules are intended to implement Iowa Code chapter 196 as amended by 2011 Iowa Acts, House File 453.

Iowa Admin. Code r. 21-36.13