EGG QUALITY AND PRICE 7 



points for the range of 8 ounces between the size (per dozen) of the smallest and 

 the largest eggs, and an additional point because the weight lacked one ounce of 

 being a full 24-ounce dozen. Thus it may be seen that in the case of both the 

 internal scores and the external scores the higher the score the poorer the quality 

 of the eggs. 



Method of Analysis 



The individual data sheet as illustrated bj' Figure 1 and the above scoring 

 method made it possible to obtain a score for each individual quality factor and a 

 final or total external, and internal, quality score for each dozen. In order to 

 evaluate the importance of these four factors, the records were first sorted by 

 general grade, whether eastern, western or cold storage, and by type of store as 

 between private and chain. The purpose of this split was to eliminate basic 

 differences in retailing methods between private and chain stores as one factor 

 in price differences, as well as to eliminate broad grade differentials as between 

 nearby and western or cold storage eggs. This analysis was made separately 

 for the sample collected in each of the three periods in order to obtain a further 

 check on the relative importance of each factor at different seasons of the year. 



Tabular analyses were made to discover the simple relationships between 

 average quality and price for eastern and western eggs in chain and private 

 stores. Multiple correlation analyses were made for both external factors and 

 internal factors in order to determine the influences which each of the various 

 quality factors had on price under all conditions. 



TABULAR ANALYSIS' 



Simple analysis was made by the use of tables to determine the variation of 

 prices between stores for the same and for different qualities of eggs. These 

 tables should tell whether price may be used as a criterion of quality. In other 

 words, can a consumer depend upon price paid to insure quality? 



In this analysis the store and egg grade relationships are used, as indicated 

 previously. Weights are given in ounces. It should be kept in mind at all times 

 when considering interior quahty scores that the lower the score, the better the 

 egg. The final scoring includes air ceU, condition of white and concUtion of yolk. 

 In order to gain a better conception of the meaning of interior scores examples 

 may be cited. The best dozen of eggs purchased scored 41 and the poorest, a 

 dozen of cold storage eggs, scored 129. The poorest "fresh" dozen scored 120. 



April Eggs 



The extreme range of prices paid for eggs in April was from 30 to 65 cents. 

 (Table 1). The most frequent prices paid were 33, 39, 45 and 55 cents, with 45 

 cents the most common. It was in the April group that the best and the poorest 

 dozens of fresh eggs were found. Two dozen eggs scored 41 each. One of these 

 dozen had perfect white and yolks, and only five eggs out of the dozen had air 

 cells larger than one-sixteenth inch. This dozen sold for 55 cents. The other 

 dozen scoring 41 sold for 49 cents. The poorest dozen of eggs scoring 120 sold at 

 39 cents. In this dozen, nine eggs had weak and watery whites and clearly visible 

 yolks, one of which was stuck. The air cells were aU over one-fourth inch and 7 

 were over three-eighths inch. This latter dozen was branded' eggs. 



'Prices in the following tables are in cents per dozen. Frequencies represent number of dozens 

 at given prices. The method of indicating quality scores is described on pages 4 and 5. 



Branded eggs will be used to indicate labeled or trade marked eggs. 



