Kokua Line
Kokua Line
Farms must display
grade of their eggsQuestion: I always buy my eggs at an egg farm, but notice the sales clerk's inconsistency when selling the grade of eggs. Do sellers need to display the eggs by grade or size? When you ask for super jumbo or jumbo eggs, they often look smaller.
Answer: If you believe the eggs are not properly labeled or displayed, call the state Department of Agriculture's commodities branch at 832-0700. That branch oversees eggs sold at farms and processing plants.
(The state Department of Health's Food & Drug Branch monitors eggs sold at retail outlets, such as supermarkets.)
The federal government requires quarterly inspections of egg farms, in which "we check on temperature, egg quality," etc., said Jeri Kahana, eggs and feed specialist for the Department of Agriculture. "It is an unannounced visit, so they don't know when we're coming."
Among the requirements is that the eggs be labeled, but that could be by a sign or placard, she said.
However, egg processing plants and farms are allowed to sell undergrade or "restricted" eggs.
Federal law exempts farms and processing plants -- known in the trade as "egg handlers" -- from meeting the minimum grade requirements set for eggs sold at retail to consumers, Kahana explained.
"Restricted" eggs refer to "check" eggs -- those with slight cracks, but with membranes intact so there is no leakage -- or "stained" eggs, those with discolorations.
However, no one is allowed to sell rotten eggs, leaking eggs or "dirty" eggs -- those with fecal matter or some foreign matter, Kahana said.
The Agriculture Department allows undergrade eggs to be sold only to household consumers and limits that number to a maximum of 30 dozen at a time.
Undergrade eggs also have to meet a minimum required size for each weight class. The minimum size for jumbo eggs, for example, is 72 grams. But in one carton, there may be larger eggs, say 80 grams, which people then erroneously may think is the standard, she said. Farmers are allowed to sell mixed sizes in one carton.
"If we do find violations, we make sure corrective actions are done, and we do a follow-up visit to make sure they are not doing it anymore," Kahana said.
Although "it's buyer beware," Kahana said some farms sometimes sell eggs without any defects but label them as restricted "to have that leeway."
On Oahu, three egg farms and four "egg handlers" sell eggs to consumers.
Auwe
To a girl "jayjogging" across Ala Wai just Ewa of the triangle park at Kapahulu Avenue and Ala Wai recently. I was merging into Ala Wai traffic after turning right from Kapahulu at dusk one evening and almost hit you. My attention was focused to my left because of the traffic, and I didn't see you until I was only five feet away from you. Girl, you are lucky to be alive! Don't ever do that again -- or I'm telling your mother. -- Jean
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