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USDA Partners with Purdue University to Develop Video Series to Illustrate Shell Egg Processing and Production Sanitation

Posted by Jennifer Porter, Deputy Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service’s Livestock and Poultry Program in Food and Nutrition Health and Safety
Dec 15, 2022
USDA Shell Egg Graders perform sanitation pre-op inspections to ensure the shell egg processing machines are properly cleaned before starting the day’s operation

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Purdue University have developed a series of training videos that illustrate proper sanitation assessment techniques to evaluate shell egg processing equipment. While the practices in these videos are required in facilities that have USDA grading, they are valuable for any shell egg facility wishing to learn more about good sanitation techniques.

To support emerging needs across the egg industry in recent years, AMS reviewed its internal procedures to assess equipment sanitation in shell egg processing plants. The agency visited over 30 shell egg processing facilities across the country to assess equipment sanitation and consistency. In order to document and share findings, AMS partnered with Purdue and ARS to develop this educational video series.

The videos take the viewer through each phase of shell egg processing and explain how to inspect each component of the facility for sanitation effectiveness. The 18 videos are a great resource for shell egg processing facilities by illustrating what clean machines and facilities should look like prior to daily verification by USDA grading personnel.

Originally released in English, these videos have now been translated into Spanish due to industry demand. The full series of videos can be found on Purdue University Extension’s YouTube channel at: Egg Processing & Production Videos - YouTube.

USDA Shell Egg Graders perform sanitation pre-op inspections to ensure the shell egg processing machines are properly cleaned before starting the day’s operation