Section 87.41. Standards

(a) The following standards shall be used to classify consumer grades of shell eggs:

(1) Grade AA. The following are standards for Grade AA shell eggs:

(i) Grade AA (at origin) shall consist of eggs which are at least 87% AA quality. The maximum tolerance of 13% which may be below AA quality. may consist of A or B quality in any combination, except that within the tolerance for B quality not more than 1.0% may be B quality due to air cells over 3/8 inch, blood spots—aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter—or serious yolk defects. Not more than 5.0%—7.0% for Jumbo size checks are permitted, and not more than 0.5% leakers, dirties or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(ii) Grade AA (destination) shall consist of eggs which are at least 72% AA quality. The remaining tolerance of 28% shall consist of at least 10% A quality and the remainder shall be B quality, except that within the tolerance for B quality not more than 1.0% may be B quality due to air cells over 3/8 inch, blood spots—aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter—or serious yolk defects. Not more than 7.0%—9.0% for Jumbo size checks are permitted, and not more than 1.0% leakers, dirties, or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(2) The following are standards for Grade A shell eggs:

(i) Grade A (at origin) shall consist of eggs which are at least 87% A quality or better. Within the maximum tolerance of 13% which may be below A quality, not more than 1.0% may be B quality due to air cells over 3/8 inch, blood spots—aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter—or serious yolk defects. Not more than 5.0%—7.0% for Jumbo size checks are permitted, and not more than 0.5 leakers, dirties or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(ii) Grade A (destination) shall consist of eggs which are at least 82% A quality or better. Within the maximum tolerance of 18% which may be below A quality, not more than 1.0% may be B quality due to air cells over 3/8 inch, blood spots—aggregating not more than 1/8 inch in diameter—or serious yolk defects. Not more than 7.0%—9.0% for Jumbo size checks are permitted, and not more than 1.0% leakers, dirties or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(3) Grade B. The following are standards for Grade B shell eggs:

(i) Grade B (at origin) shall consist of eggs which are at least 90% B quality or better. Not more than 10% may be checks and not more than 0.5% leakers, dirties, or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(ii) Grade B (destination) shall consist of eggs which are at least 90% B quality or better. Not more than 10% may be checks and not more than 1.0% leakers, dirties, or loss—due to meat or blood spots—in any combination, except that such loss may not exceed 0.3%. Other types of loss are not permitted.

(4) Additional tolerance. The following are additional tolerances:

(i) In lots of two or more cases:

(A) For Grade AA—no individual case may exceed 10% less AA quality eggs than the minimum permitted for the lot average.

(B) For Grade A—no individual case may exceed 10% less A quality eggs than the minimum permitted for the lot average.

(C) For Grade B—no individual case may exceed 10% less B quality eggs than the minimum permitted for the lot average.

(ii) For grades AA, A, and B—no lot shall be rejected or downgraded due to the quality of a single egg except for loss other than blood or meat spots.

(5) Application. Such grades are applicable to any quantity of two or more eggs but not individual eggs.

(6) Substitution. Substitution of eggs possessing higher qualities for those possessing lower qualities shall be permitted.

(7) Consumer grades. Pennsylvania consumer grades for shell eggs shall be as follows:

(i) The quality required for specified grades at origin shall conform with the following table: