Off odours and flavours
Description
Some eggs may have an unusual or unacceptable odour or taste, although their appearance is normal. They differ from rotten eggs, which are obviously defective and smell putrid.
Incidence
Off odours and fl avours are rare in fresh eggs stored correctly.
| Cause | Control |
|---|---|
| Old eggs | Avoid the development of ‘stale odours’ by minimising storage time. High temperatures accelerate the development of ‘stale odours’. Reduce temperatures in the layer shed in summer. Collect eggs at least twice daily and even more frequently in summer. |
| High storage temperatures | Store eggs in a coolroom as soon as possible after collection, preferably at a temperature of 12 to 15 °C. Oil eggs soon after collection. Use only an oil such as Caltex Pharma White 15 BP/USP, approved for this purpose by the relevant authorities. |
| Poor storage conditions | Absorption of foreign odours from the storage
environment can produce off odours and tastes in the
egg. Among materials implicated are: • fish oils and meals. • sour milk. • strongly scented or decaying fruit and vegetables. • mould. • disinfectants. • kerosene. • poultry droppings. Eggs that have been oiled are less likely to absorb foreign odours. |
| Strongly fl avoured feed ingredients | ‘Fishy’ or other undesirable flavours may be produced
by feeding:
• excessive amounts of low-grade fish meals or fish oils. • some vegetables including onions, turnips and excessive amounts of cabbage. • rapeseed. |
| Micro-organisms | Certain bacteria and fungi growing either on the outside or the inside of the egg may give an undesirable odour or fl avour to the egg contents without causing noticeable spoilage. Use the same control measures as to minimise the incidence of rotten eggs (see page 57), e.g. avoid faecal contamination, use proper washing procedures, store eggs correctly and make sure they are as fresh as possible. |
| Persistent layers of off-flavoured eggs | Individual birds can continue to produce off-flavoured eggs regardless of feed and egg storage conditions. Such birds should be culled, but tracing them is extremely difficult. |
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: OPTIMUM EGG QUALITY - A PRACTICAL APPROACH
© The State of Queensland, Australia (through its Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries) and DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., 2007. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with prior written permission of Director, Intellectual Property Commercialisation Unit, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, GPO Box 46 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4001, and DSM Nutritional Products Ltd.
© The State of Queensland, Australia (through its Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries) and DSM Nutritional Products Ltd., 2007. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with prior written permission of Director, Intellectual Property Commercialisation Unit, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, GPO Box 46 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia 4001, and DSM Nutritional Products Ltd.