Cal. Code Regs. tit. 3 § 1356.2

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 45, November 8, 2024
Section 1356.2 - Restricted Eggs

Eggs classed as "restricted eggs" are exempt from the size and quality standards for consumer grade eggs except as provided in the tolerances, if any, for undergrade eggs.

Restricted eggs may be sold directly to consumers only as follows: by a shell egg producer from his own flock's production, at the site of production or segregation, or at secondary locations operated by the producer-packer for the primary purpose of shell egg retail sales; by a shell egg packer at the grading station where grading or segregation occurred.

Special provisions described below place restrictions upon the sale, processing, movement, distribution and uses of restricted eggs.

Any product segregated into the several restricted egg categories must bear legible and conspicuous labeling of its quality on the carton, case, rack or pallet, as applicable. Name, address and zip code of the packer is required for shipment, but need not appear on the label if it appears elsewhere on the packing medium described above.

(a) Product for Human Consumption.
(1) Checks--direct sales to consumers. Checked eggs may be sold directly to a consumer for exclusive use by his household and nonpaying guests, in quantities not to exceed 30 dozen per sale. Eggs labeled "checks" may not exceed 1 percent dirties, leakers and loss (due to meat or blood spots), except that loss may not exceed 0.5 percent.
(2) Checks--sales to breaking plants. Checked eggs may be sold in bulk and transported only for processing into an egg product at a USDA inspected egg product plant. Labeling shall include the statement "For Processing Only in an Official USDA Egg Product Plant." For this purpose a tolerance of 5 percent leakers and 1 percent other loss or dirties is permitted.
(3) Dirties--direct sales to consumers. Dirty eggs may be sold directly to a consumer for exclusive use by his household and nonpaying guests, in quantities not to exceed 30 dozen per sale. Eggs labeled "dirty" may not exceed 10 percent checks and 1 percent leakers and loss (due to meat or blood spots), except that loss may not exceed 0.5 percent.
(4) Dirties--sales to breaking plants. Dirty eggs may be sold in bulk and transported only for processing into an egg product at a USDA inspected egg product plant. Labeling shall include the statement "For Processing Only in an Official USDA Egg Product Plant." Eggs so labeled may not exceed 10 percent checks or 1 percent loss.
(5) Dirties--transported for cleaning. Dirty eggs may be transported to another facility and location for the purpose of cleaning.
(6) Checks and Dirties--direct sales to consumers. Checked and dirty eggs may be sold directly to a consumer for exclusive use by his household and nonpaying guests, in quantities not to exceed 30 dozen per sale. Eggs labeled "checks and dirties" may not exceed 1 percent leakers and loss (due to meat or blood spots), except that loss may not exceed 0.5 percent.
(7) Checks and Dirties--sales to breaking plants. Checked and dirty eggs may be sold in bulk and transported only for processing into an egg product at a USDA inspected egg product plant. Labeling shall include the statement "For Processing Only in an Official USDA Egg Products Plant." For this purpose a tolerance of 5 percent leakers and 1 percent other loss is permitted.
(8) Bloods--sales to breaking plants. Eggs containing large blood or meat spots with only slight diffusion, if any, into the egg white, and when labeled "Spots" or "Light Bloods," may be sold and transported without denaturation to a USDA inspected egg product plant for processing as an egg product. Labeling must include the statement "For Processing Only in an Official USDA Egg Products Plant." No other type loss is permitted for this product.
(b) Product Unfit for Use as Human Food. Leakers, loss and inedible eggs must be rendered unfit for human food purposes at point of segregation by one of the following methods:
(1) Processed into animal food--in shell form. Sale and transportation of loss eggs for animal food purposes are permitted when denatured by application of dye to the shell and the following statement included in the label: "Restricted Eggs--Not To Be Used As Human Food."
(2) Processed into animal food--liquid form. Sale and transportation of loss eggs in liquid form for animal food purposes is permitted when denatured and the following statement is included in the label: "Restricted Eggs--Not To Be Used As Human Food." When shipped and received under USDA supervision the product need not be denatured.
(3) Processed into industrial product. Inedible eggs in liquid form may be processed into an industrial product at the grading station. If transported from the plant, the product must be denatured and the following statement included in the labeling: "Inedible Egg Product--Not To Be Used As Human Food."
(4) Destroyed. Any form of restricted eggs other than incubator rejects may be disposed of by intermingling with refuse and discarded.
(c) Incubator Rejects. Eggs which have been subjected to incubation may not be moved in shell form, but must be crushed and denatured upon removal from incubation. If transported from the hatchery the product must be labeled: "Inedible Egg Product--Not To Be Used As Human Food."

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 3, § 1356.2

Note: Authority cited: Sections 407, 27531 and 27642, Food and Agricultural Code. Reference: Sections 27531 and 27642, Food and Agricultural Code.