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The stunning record of chemical compounds allowed in USDA natural egg washing and processing, which leaves the potential for poisonous residues given the porous nature of egg shells.
One of many targets of this weblog for the previous 15 years is to encourage individuals to take their meals sourcing domestically.
In different phrases, redirect as a lot of the meals funds as attainable to native producers or artisans.
What this implies, in observe, is the elimination of the “meals intermediary” that’s the Industrialized Meals System.
The Industrialized Meals System is the place almost the entire unhealthy issues occur to your meals.
This contains nourishing, complete meals like natural eggs. Even pastured and free-range varieties from small farms can fall sufferer to its regulatory risks.
You see, while you take a high quality product from a small farm and cross it by the Industrialized Meals System, poisonous practices and meals adulteration often happen.
It’s not the identical product when it emerges from the Industrialized Meals System as when it first entered!
Let’s check out how natural eggs are washed as a simple instance.
USDA Natural Egg Wash Requirements
Whereas many individuals keep away from standard eggs as they know in regards to the poisonous chlorine washes which are customary observe, because it seems, egg (and carcass) washes for USDA natural manufacturers really aren’t significantly better!
Egg shells are extremely porous and any chemical used to scrub the shell and coat it afterward can find yourself within the egg itself.
In response to Part 205.605 of USDA Poultry Pointers, the next chemical compounds are accepted to be used as natural egg washes. (1)
- Sodium hypochlorite
- Potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide
- Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
- Sodium carbonate (washing soda)
- Peracetic acid (Peroxyacetic acid)
Whereas two of those chemical compounds (H2O2 and sodium carbonate) are protected, the others are most positively not!
For instance, sodium hypochlorite is corrosive and an environmental hazard. (2)
Potassium hydroxide is corrosive and an irritant. (3)
Peracetic acid is flammable and corrosive in addition to an irritant and environmental hazard. (4)
How these chemical compounds are one way or the other allowed in “natural” egg manufacturing is past me.
Why doesn’t the USDA solely permit protected substances similar to hydrogen peroxide and sodium carbonate? Why the opposite poisonous trio as nicely?
Poisonous Vegetable Oil Coating after Washing
One other widespread observe is for natural eggs to be coated with vegetable oil after washing.
This “seals” the porous egg shells “for security”.
Part 205.605 of USDA Poultry Pointers permits for this poisonous observe as nicely. (1)
What oils are used? Your guess is nearly as good as mine, nevertheless it doesn’t have to be listed as a result of it’s an “trade customary”. 🙄
My guess is that the most cost effective seed oils are used similar to refined canola or sunflower oil.
The way to Discover Protected, Unwashed Eggs
The unhappy reality is that it’s crucial for customers to coach themselves and take evasive motion with regards to sourcing eggs. They can’t depend on the USDA or natural requirements to guard them.
For my part, the perfect resolution is to maintain yard chickens your self. Our household has saved a small flock for over 10 years now, and I extremely advocate it!
The following smartest thing is to acquire contemporary, unwashed eggs from a neighbor or farmer’s market. Keep away from natural eggs from the shop as a lot as attainable.
In the event you suppose unwashed eggs are harmful, they don’t seem to be!
The “bloom” or pure coating on an egg is very protecting, even permitting for the eggs to stay unrefrigerated for a lot of days.
In Europe and different elements of the world, unwashed (and unrefrigerated) eggs may be discovered at shops and even out on the street!
The image beneath is a photograph I took myself of unwashed eggs sitting out unrefrigerated in a healthfood retailer within the Netherlands in 2018.
The following image beneath is a photograph I took on the streets of Venice, Italy in 2015.
Utterly unrefrigerated, unwashed contemporary eggs out within the open air subsequent to greens and fruit!
The scare techniques of the USDA towards unwashed eggs are utterly unwarranted!
Finest Natural Egg Manufacturers
If you end up in a meals desert the place contemporary, unwashed eggs are usually not accessible and retaining a number of hens your self is just not an possibility, then you will want to do some investigation of the accessible egg manufacturers in your space.
The very best natural egg model rating system I’ve seen is from the Cornucopia Institute. (5, 6)
Whereas this in-depth egg scorecard investigates an exhaustive record of standards about dozens of natural egg manufacturers, sadly, the egg-washing course of is just not amongst them!
Thus, I might recommend utilizing this scorecard to winnow down the record of egg manufacturers which are greatest and accessible in your space.
Then, contact every farm instantly (by telephone is greatest in my expertise), to acquire data on the chemical compounds used to scrub the eggs and the vegetable oil used to coat them earlier than they’re positioned in cartons and shipped to your retailer shelf.
In a worst-case state of affairs, if you happen to shouldn’t have a “greatest” natural model accessible in your space that makes use of unhazardous hydrogen peroxide or sodium carbonate as an egg wash, then not less than make sure you re-wash the eggs your self totally in heat, soapy water earlier than utilizing.
Whereas this isn’t a failsafe methodology given the porous nature of egg shells, it will not less than scale back the prospect that chemical or rancid vegetable oil residues get into the eggs while you crack them.
(1) USDA Poultry Pointers
(2) Sodium hypochlorite
(3) Potassium hydroxide
(4) Peracetic acid
(5) Egg Scorecard Standards, Cornucopia Institute
(6) Finest Natural Egg Manufacturers