Iowa Administrative Code
Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department
Chapter 36 - Egg Handlers
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: |
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|
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*** |
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|
*** Leaker has broken or cracked shell and membranes and contents leaking or free to leak. |
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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 |
501/2 |
26 |
|
Large |
24 |
45 |
23 |
|
Medium |
21 |
391/2 |
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.
