RESTRICTED EGGS Undergrade eggs, specifically checks, dirties, incubator rejects, inedibles, leakers and loss eggs.

Checks have a broken shell or a crack in the shell, but shell membranes are intact so that the egg contents do not leak.

Dirties may have adhering dirt, prominent or conspicuous stains, or moderate stains covering more than 1/4 of the shell surface.

Incubator rejects have been subjected to the incubation process for a period of time.

Inedibles are moldy, musty, sour, or exhibit rot, blood rings, green whites, stuck yolks or embryo chicks.

Leakers have a crack or break in both shell and shell membranes so that the contents are leaking.

Loss eggs are leakers, inedihles and any egg that has been cooked, frozen or contaminated.

The Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) controls the distribution of such eggs to prevent their getting into consumer channels. Checks and dirties are allowed to move to official USDA egg products plants where they can be properly handled and processed. They cannot be sold in the shell to restaurants, bakeries, food manufacturers or consumers unless such sales are specifically exempted by section 15 of the Act and not prohibited by state law. All other restricted eggs must be disposed of according to approved procedures.