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Sodium Reduction Egg products are naturally low in sodium and possess multifunctional components for foaming, binding and emulsifying, and other functions. Clean labels are dependent upon the ingredients. Egg products offer a clean label option and can help maintain product integrity and stability in a reduced sodium formulation. Egg products are capable of binding other ingredients, providing structure and stability and assisting with moisture migration while not conflicting with flavors of other ingredients. In fact, eggs have functional properties that do the job of many additives, yet naturally. Today's consumers, better educated and more label savvy, are avoiding additives and seeking more natural food alternatives. Custom blended egg products that include carbohydrates, gum, starches, sugar, and low levels of salt are available to meet manufacturers' specifications and improve functional performance. Egg products make so many food formulations great or better. The functional profile egg products provide is worth investigating to mine the possibilities for all the value they can provide to sodium reduced and other formulations. For information about health and nutrition topics, visit the Egg Nutrition Center at www.enc-online.org

Cooked Egg Products Usage Foodservice and the commercial food processing industry. Availability Portion controlled packaging in various weights, sizes and unit case counts. All products are made with fresh shell eggs that are fully cooked and individually quick frozen to ensure freshness. Advantages All products are food safe, consistent in taste and appearance, and reduce labor. Cooked egg products ensure value and customer satisfaction. Simply “heat and serve,” with little mess. Storage/Handling Store hard cooked eggs at recommended refrigerated temperatures. Frozen items to be kept at frozen temperatures below 10° F. (-12° C). Thaw in refrigerator. Use as soon as possible. Products: Hard cooked eggs Dry and brine pack Diced egg Scrambled egg patties Pre-cooked scrambled egg Omelettes French toast

Dried Egg Products Usage Ingredient especially for the commercial food processing industry. Availability Foodservice - 6 oz pouches, 3 and 25 lb poly packs. Commercial - 25 and 50 lb boxes, 150, 175, and 200 lb drums. Advantages Long shelf life, stable and mixable. Processing Overview Shell eggs are washed, rinsed, sanitized, candled, broken, separated by automation, and monitored for quality and imperfections. Liquid whole eggs and yolks are clarified, filtered, and pasteurized using high-temperature, short-time (HTST) pasteurization equipment. After pasteurization, they are spray dried. The separated egg whites and egg yolks from the same production batch may be recombined in their entirety and identified as whole eggs. Egg whites are treated prior to drying to remove naturally occurring glucose and preserve color once dried, resulting in stabilized egg whites for longer storage. Glucose is sometimes removed from whole egg and yolk products for long storage stability. Egg whites are more sensitive to heat coagulation. They are clarified, filtered, glucose removed, and spray dried prior to pasteurization in a “hot room” maintained at a temperature of at least 130ºF (54ºC) for a minimum of seven to ten days. Industry practice often exceeds the required pasteurization regulations — pasteurized at a higher temperature — to improve gel strength. This assures kill of Salmonella if the moisture content of egg solids is kept at approximately 6%. The whipping ability of egg whites also improves when stored in the hot room at low moisture levels. Pan drying, which creates a flake or granular product, is another possible method for drying egg whites, but spray drying is generally used because quick exposure to very high temperatures prevents color and nutrient damage. Added Ingredients Sugar (sucrose), glucose-free corn syrup, or sodium silicoaluminate are sometimes added according to suppliers’ specifications, as anti-caking agents to assure a free-flowing product. Without these agents, the egg powder could harden and solidify — making it difficult to incorporate into food applications. Whipping additives like sodium lauryl sulfate may be added to dried egg whites at a level of less than 0.1% (by weight of the liquid prior to drying) to assure whipping ability and aeration properties. Carbohydrates can be added to increase the egg’s resistance to heat damage, e.g., less protein denaturation during drying and improve stability and flowability of dried egg products. Storage/Handling Store dried eggs as any other dried, powdered food in a cool, dark place. Once reconstituted, use immediately or store refrigerated for no more than four days. Products: Whole eggs or yolk solids Dried egg or scrambled egg mix Egg whites Free flowing whole eggs or yolk solids Stabilized (glucose-free) whole eggs or yolk solids Blends of whole eggs and/or yolk with carbohydrates

Refrigerated Liquid Egg Products Usage Foodservice and the commercial food processing industry. Availability Bulk tank trucks, totes, metal or plastic containers, polyethylene coated fiber or laminated foil and paper cartons and hermetically sealed polyethylene bags. Container size from small bags to cartons (8 oz to 5 lbs), intermediate size bag in boxes and pails (200 to 3,500 lbs) and larger drums and totes (20 to 40 lbs). Advantages Pasteurized, quick and easy to use. Processing Overview Shell eggs are washed, rinsed, sanitized, and candled, then broken, separated by automation, and monitored for quality and imperfections. Egg products are then filtered, pasteurized, and packaged. Custom blends (specified egg solids content or added ingredients) are available. Standards of Indentity Whole eggs are a combination of pasteurized egg whites and egg yolks from the same production batch blended together in their entirety, in natural proportions. Egg products produced by combining egg whites and egg yolks from different production batches cannot be labeled as whole eggs. These products must be identified with an ingredient statement showing the contents of the product as egg whites and egg yolks. Examples of Added Ingredients Sugar or salt may be added to certain products. Refrigerated egg whites may have triethyl citrate added as a whipping aid. Storage/Handling After opening, liquid eggs should be kept refrigerated at 40º to 45ºF (4.4º to 7.2ºC) maximum at all times and consumed within two to six days from date of purchase. Once opened, use immediately. Products Whole eggs, whites, or yolks Sugared egg yolks Salted whole eggs or yolks Scrambled egg mix Extended shelf life whole eggs, whites, yolks, or scrambled egg mix Products: Whole eggs, whites, or yolks Sugared egg yolks Salted whole eggs or yolks Scrambled egg mix Extended shelf life whole eggs, whites, yolks, or scrambled egg mix

Nature’s Original Functional Food Nature’s Original Functional Food Meeting your nutritional needs has become big business. Everywhere you look, various nutrients are promoted to benefit your body in some way. Without a professional diagnosis of disease, we are expected to determine our specific nutrient needs according to our family medical history, lifestyle, environmental pollutants, gender, age, economic group and race. Given all these requirements, it’s little wonder that most women despair and resort to a multivitamin supplement. However, the benefits of eating foods that are naturally nutritious must not be overlooked. Foods that offer a variety of nutrients in ample quantities have benefited generations of humans before us. That is because each nutrient helps another to be absorbed and used by the body. This is called nutrient synergy. Scientists are still discovering nutrients in foods that are essential to the health and well being of the human body. When a supplemented food or a synthetic compound is consumed, the nutritional benefits may be different than from food. Foods like eggs have been an important part of a healthy diet for generations and have a large variety of essential nutrients packed into them by nature. In fact, eggs contain varying amounts of all essential nutrients with the exception of vitamin C. That’s why teaming up a cold glass of orange juice with your fresh eggs every morning can take the guesswork out of eating without all the hype.

Eggs and foodborne illness Eggs and Foodborne Illness Q: What is foodborne illness? A: All foods have the ability to carry microorganisms (like bacteria and viruses) or toxins that can potentially cause illness. Foodborne illness can result if microorganisms or toxins are introduced to food or if bacteria are allowed to grow in or on food. Common symptoms of foodborne illness include headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps. The egg community follows several programs to reduce foodborne illness and produce safe eggs. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm. Q: How do bacteria, like Salmonella, infect eggs? A: Bacteria can be both on the outside and inside of a shell egg. Eggs are washed and sanitized at the processing plant to clean off any contamination of the outside of an egg. Bacteria can also be inside an uncracked, whole egg. Eggs may be contaminated by transfer of bacteria within the hen’s ovary or oviduct before the shell forms around the yolk and white. Scientists have found that Salmonella Enteritidis has the ability to grow both in the egg yolk and white. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm Q: What part inside the egg carries bacteria? A: If bacteria is present, it is usually in the yolk, according to researchers, because the yolk contains nutrients bacteria need to grow. Bacteria have also been found to grow in the white, but not as often as in the yolk. Egg Safety Center and FDA advise not to eat raw or undercooked egg yolks and whites, or products containing raw or undercooked eggs. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm Q: How does Salmonella infect eggs? A: Salmonella are found in the intestinal tracts of animals, birds, reptiles, insects and humans. Salmonella may be found on the outside of the egg shell before the egg is washed, or it may be found inside the egg if the hen was infected prior to egg laying. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm. Q: What will happen if I eat an egg containing Salmonella? A: Symptoms of salmonellosis include abdominal cramps, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, chills, fever and/or headache within six to 72 hours after eating the contaminated food. The symptoms usually last only a day or two in healthy people but can lead to serious complications in young children, pregnant women, the elderly and others with compromised immunity. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm. Q: What usually causes salmonellosis? A: Chicken, eggs, pork, cheese, cantaloupe, tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, orange juice and cereal have all been linked to outbreaks of salmonellosis. Human carriers can transmit some types of salmonellosis. Salmonella can easily spread from one food to another, too. The majority of reported salmonellosis outbreaks involving eggs or egg-containing foods have occurred in food service kitchens and resulted from inadequate refrigeration, improper handling and/or insufficient cooking. The egg community follows several programs to reduce Salmonella bacteria and produce safe eggs. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm. Q: What is being done about Salmonella in eggs? A: The egg industry, the public health community and government agencies have been working diligently to help prevent Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in eggs. This includes egg safety programs at all steps, from farms through food preparation. Egg farmers procure Salmonella-free chicks, implement protocols for biosecurity and pest control, clean and disinfect poultry houses, and vaccinate chicks. Eggs are held at low temperatures following lay, during transport to the processing plant, and after packing to protect against the rare cases of SE in eggs. The public health community educates on safe food-handling practices. Along with state agriculture departments, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have developed national standards with the goal of reducing egg-related salmonellosis. Scientists continue to conduct research to discover how SE gets into flocks and how its presence might be further reduced. Proper cooking and handling of eggs is important to greatly reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Cook eggs thoroughly until the white and the yolk is firm. Q: Can shell eggs be pasteurized or irradiated to destroy Salmonella? A: Yes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states pasteurized in-shell eggs can be safely used in recipes calling for raw eggs. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that irradiation can effectively eliminate organisms that cause foodborne illness, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Q: Are egg products pasteurized? A: All egg products are required by law to be pasteurized. Approximately one-third of all eggs produced in the U.S. are broken and further processed to make egg products sold as retail or food service items or as ingredients for commercial food manufacturers. These may be whole eggs, egg whites or egg yolks, and they may be liquid, frozen or dried. The safety of egg products is regulated by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service.

Cooking Cooking It is important to cook eggs properly. Cook until the white is set and the yolk begins to thicken. The white coagulates at a temperature between 60°C and 65°C (140°F and 145°F). Yolk coagulates between 65°C and 70°C (149°F and 158°F). Scrambled Poached Sunnyside Over easy Soft cooked 121°C (250° F) Boiling water 121°C ( 250° F) (cover pan) 121°C (250° F) Boiling water 1 min. 5 min. 4 min 3 min. side 1 / 2min. side 2 7 min. ⚠️ Time and temperature are critical factors in the cooking and service process. Cook at a low to medium temperature and time carefully. Hold cold egg dishes below 5°C (40°F) and hot egg dishes above 60°C (140°F). Never leave egg dishes at room temperature for more than one hour. ⚠️

Frozen Egg Products Usage Ingredient especially for the commercial food processing industry. Availability 30 lb container and 4, 5, 8, 10 lb pouches or waxed plastic cartons Commercial - 25 and 50 lb boxes, 150, 175, and 200 lb drums. Advantages Long shelf life, functionality, variety of blends. Processing Overview Shell eggs are washed, rinsed, sanitized, and candled, then broken, monitored for quality and imperfections, and yolks separated from whites by automation. Separation is not necessary if whole eggs are being processed. Egg products are then clarified, filtered, pasteurized and filled into containers and frozen at –10° to –40°F (–23.3° to –40°C). Egg yolks and whole eggs generally must be mixed with sugar, salt, or other edible ingredients such as corn syrup, phosphates, or other carbohydrates, to prevent gelation (increased viscosity) caused by the lipid portion of the lipoproteins in the freeze-thaw cycle. (When the protein molecules interact with each other upon thawing, they form insoluble aggregates that make thawed yolks gel-like and gummy.) Gelation of the yolk or whole egg may be prevented by homogenization and the addition of about 10% sucrose or sodium chloride prior to freezing. Some egg white products contain an ester-type whipping agent such as triethyl citrate. Added Ingredients Citric acid may be added to some yolk or whole egg products to prevent greening. Storage Stored at 0° to –5°F (–17.8° to –20.6°C) frozen eggs can be held for years. Defrost only as much as needed, in unopened containers, in refrigerator or under cold running water. Use defrosted product immediately, or store refrigerated for no longer than three days. With extended storage, some physical changes like coagulation of certain protein fractions of egg whites or gelation of the yolk, may occur. Frozen eggs cannot be refrozen once thawed. Store thawed eggs at the coldest possible refrigerator temperature (40° to 45°F, 4.4° to 7.2°C). Products: Whole eggs, whites, or yolks Scrambled egg mix Salted whole eggs or yolks Sugared egg yolks Whole eggs with yolks and corn syrup Whole eggs with citric acid Whole eggs with corn syrup Various blends

Frequently Ask Questions Ask the Doctor Dr. Glenn Froning, is a world-renown expert on everything about eggs. The author of over 200 scientific publications and articles on poultry meat and eggs, he is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Food Science and Technology at the University of Nebraska and the Food Science and Technology Advisor to the American Egg Board. Dr. Froning also answers the Board’s EGGSolutions™ Hotline. Please call him for information about egg products properties in processing, handling, and storage. Q: What affects the foaming properties of egg whites? A: Egg white is sensitive to high temperatures. Thus, pasteurization temperatures must be closely controlled. Yolk contamination needs to be below 0.05% to avoid loss of foaming properties. Surface active agents are generally added to liquid and dried egg white to improve foaming properties. Q: Which works best, shell eggs or egg products? A: Egg products are pasteurized to eliminate Salmonella contamination and can be tailored to specific functional needs. Egg products also are labor saving. Therefore, food safety and convenience makes egg products the best choice. Q: Are there egg products specifically formulated for a specific function? A: Yes, for example, egg white may be processed to produce optimum foaming properties. Salted yolk is often preferred by mayonnaise firms. Knowing a user’s need, the egg industry can formulate products to that specific function. Q: What effects do pasteurized egg products have on baking? A: Egg white proteins are susceptible to heat damage which may adversely affect foaming properties. However, addition of whipping agents such as sodium lauryl sulfate and triethyl citrate will help restore foaming properties. Pasteurization of whole egg and yolk products does not affect baking properties. Q: Are there any functional differences in using dried egg products versus liquid products? A: Functional attributes are quite similar. The choice of the user largely depends on how they fit into a specific application. For example, a cake mix manufacturer would prefer a dried egg product. Also, if storage space is a concern, dried products may be the choice. Q: Are there any functional differences in using liquid egg products versus frozen egg products? A: Freezing does not change egg white functionality. The functional properties of plain egg yolk or whole eggs are minimally affected by freezing. Salted egg yolk, that has been frozen, generally has better emulsifying abilities. Functionality in sponge cakes and custards are not adversely affected by using frozen egg products. Q: Does freezing or pasteurization of egg yolk or whole eggs affect emulsification properties? A: Pasteurization of yolk or whole eggs has been shown to have minimal effect on emulsifying properties. Previous research has shown that emulsification properties of salted yolk or whole eggs are not adversely affected by freezing.

Weight Management & Satiety Obesity is a multi-factorial and complex health issue. Current guidance for weight management encourages physical activity along with consuming an overall healthy eating pattern which includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, low-fat and fat-free dairy products. A growing body of research suggests that dietary protein, specifically, can help promote satiety, facilitating weight loss when consumed as part of reduced energy diets. Several clinical trials have specifically assessed the effects of high-quality protein from eggs on satiety and weight loss. For example: In a study in overweight adults, calorie-restricted diets that included either eggs or a bagel for breakfast were compared; the people who consumed eggs for breakfast lowered their body mass index by 61%, lost 65% more weight, and reported feeling more energetic than those who ate a bagel for breakfast. Men who consumed an egg breakfast versus a bagel breakfast showed that appetite hormones were suppressed following eggs at breakfast, as was energy intake over the course of the day. A study of overweight premenopausal women that evaluated satiety responses to eating a turkey sausage and egg breakfast sandwich versus a low-protein pancake breakfast showed better appetite control and few calories consumed at lunch following the egg-based breakfast. In a 3-month trial among subjects with type 2 diabetes, those who consumed 2 eggs per day for 6 days a week reported less hunger and greater satiety than those who consumed less than 2 eggs per week.