Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1917 — PUN TO STOP THE WASTE IN EGGS [ARTICLE]

PUN TO STOP THE WASTE IN EGGS

Poultry and Egg Shippers to Cooperate With the Food Administration. HOPE TD SAVE $50,000,000 ■■ Shippers Who Purchase Eggs to Pay Only for Those Fit for Human Consumption—Prompt Chlll- ' Ing of Eggs Is Advocated. Washington. New methods and equipment to save the SSO, 000, (MX) worth of eggs wasted every year In this country and make the poultry industry an effective ally in the cause of food conservation were discussed recently at a conference of representative poultry and egg shippers with the food-administration. --- - The conference was addressed by the food administrator, G. H. Powell, and E. Hearty nf his staff, and Dr. Mary Pennington of the United States food research laboratory, Philadelphia and W. F. Priebe of the food administration presided. The waste in eggs in 1914, according to the department of agriculture yearbook, cost the country SSO.(MK).(MX). This year it wlll be fully as large ; for although the supply has gone down, prices have Increased materially. Wasteful methods in handling poultry were also exceedingly expensive. The food administration made practical suggestions to remedy conditions, all of which received the approval of the conference. Pay Only for Good Ones. It was recommended that shippers who purchase eggs pay for only tho ie fit for human consumption., The custom has been to buy eggs by the case, without candling before purchase. Candling later was almost always sure to show that a large percentage of theeggs were bad. To get his money back, the shipper then had to throw away the bad eggs and raise his price, which was felt all along the line to the consumer.

Chilling pf eggs to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, or below, as soon after., purchase ins possible, was advocated. Most eggs are fertile, and the lifegerm will deteriorate fast If not chilled. Even lin infertile eggs the bacterial growth develops very sbon. Wholesalers were urged to equip their plants with the latest cooling machinery. All second-grade eggs, heated, shrunken or cracked, should be marketed as often and as near the source as possible- These are usual 1 y dessicated or frozen, and are used by confectioners and bakers. Before shipping, all eggs should be carefully rehandled and those Cbadly “checked"—that is, wltil shells cracked—should be removed. Packing in standard cases Is recommended, to prevent breakage. Eggs should be gathered by farmers daily and marketed at least twice a week. Cause of Many Scandals. The practice of selling poultry with feed, sand or gravel in Wir crops, w-hich Is pytf for by weight Vflth the bird, Is discouraged. This crafty device has caused many scandals in the industry, and several municipal investigations, notablycona-ln New York. Dressed poultry should be sold with the crop entirely empty. All birds should be kept in sanitary coops and yards, and as, soon as dressed.should be chilled to 40 degrees, or lower; to prevent bacterial growth. The conference passed resolutions of support for the whole food administration program, including federal license for dealers. ~ _____