How are eggs inspected for cracks weak shells broken yolks and blood spots?

How are eggs inspected for cracks, weak shells, broken yolks, and blood spots?

Candling is the process of inspecting eggs for cracks, weak shells, broken yolks, and blood spots. It involves holding an egg up to a bright light and rotating it to check its interior.

Here's a step-by-step explanation of how eggs are inspected using candling:

- Egg Placement: The egg is placed in a candling machine which contains a bright light source.

- Rotation: The egg is gently rotated in front of the light source, allowing the inspector to view its interior.

- Inspecting for Cracks and Weak Shells: Cracks or weak shells appear as dark lines or shadows on the egg's surface when candled.

- Broken Yolks: A broken yolk is visible as a dark, irregularly-shaped area within the egg.

- Blood Spots: Blood spots appear as small, reddish-brown spots or streaks within the egg.

- Grading and Sorting: Eggs that pass the candling inspection are graded based on their quality and sorted accordingly. Cracked, weak-shelled, or broken yolk eggs are typically discarded or used for processing.

Candling is an essential part of egg quality control and ensures that consumers receive safe, high-quality eggs.