UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Contribution from the Bureau of Chemistry 
CARL L. ALSBERG, Chief 
Washington, D. C. Vv June 3, 1919 
COMMERCIAL PRESERVATION OF EGGS BY COLD 
STORAGE.' 
By M. K. Jenxins, Assistant Bacteriologist. Prepared under the direction of M. E. 
PENNINGTON, Chief, Food Research Laboratory. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page. 
Some aspects of the cold storage business. . .- 1 | Results of investigation—Continued. 
Purpose ofinvestigation...........522....5.- 2 Analysis of bad eggs in commercial firsts 
General plan ofinvestigation...-............ 2 and seconds after storing..............- 18 
Results of investigation: Carefully prepared packages............- 20 
Effect of condition of shell upon preserva- Shrinkage of eggs and absorption of 
PU ey ta) Sho ows wrcielaa se siaewacnin otic 5 moisture by case and fillers.....-...... 23 
Relation of quality to preservation ...... 9 Physical and chemical changes in eggs 
Commercial grading for storage.......... 10 Guringistorage sss eee 28 
Relation of month of storage to number of Absorption of foreign flayors during 
bad eggs in cold storage firsts and SUOLAS Oe west ene Meee cece e neue 33 
EUG TIEG AS. en ee ee ere ee aes IQ RSumimary sisseesceekoaccesas somebas scceecnes 34 
Condition of commercial packages as 
HPRE eRe ak tas ese cas sé cfs scenes 16 
SOME ASPECTS OF THE COLD STORAGE BUSINESS. 
The preservation of eggs by means of cold renders one of the most 
important of the perishable foods available at all times. According 
to Holmes,’ about 50 per cent of the egg crop is produced during 
the months of March, April, May, and June, and 86 per cent of the 
eggs held in storage are stored in March, April, and May. During 
these cool months the eggs are the freshest and most desirable for 
storing. According to a statement issued by the Bureau of Markets, 
April 15, 1918, 478 warehouses, which report holdings of eggs in 
cold storage, are fairly well distributed over the United Sates 
The March 11, 1918, summary report, issued by the Bureau of 
Markets, shows that a total of 6,595,850 30-dozen cases, valued at 
$70,487,212, were stored in 396 houses during the season of 1917-18. 
These figures, although lower than the actual amounts, due, as men- 
tioned in the reports, to the failure of a few houses to forwat d state- 
1 The work covered in this alist was done in the Bureau of Cc she mistry. Tn the future, the market- 
ing phases of the Department’s work on poultry and eggs will be conducted by the Bureau of Markets, 
under 4 cooperative arrangement with the Bureau of Chemistry. 
2U.8. Dept. Agr., Statistics Bul. 93. 
99369°—19—B ull. 775——-1 
