This novel conveyor devised for the experiment was instrumental in achieving acceptable decontamination. As the eggs rotate on their long axis along the way, the entire surface of the eggshell is exposed to the pulsed ultraviolet light energy.
"As the egg rotates on its long axis along the way, the entire surface of the eggshell is exposed to the pulsed ultraviolet light energy, and the 27 seconds of exposure in our experiment resulted in an acceptable germicidal response," he said. "At three pulses per second, each egg is exposed to nearly 90 pulses, and each pulse has a duration of 360 microseconds—an extremely short duration pulse."
The researchers, who recently published their results in Poultry Science, found that pulsed ultraviolet light treatment inactivated two different microbial strains, with greater energy resulting in a greater germicidal response.
The study also evaluated the effects of pulsed ultraviolet light treatment of hatching eggs on both embryo and chick growth. Using the same system, four batches of 125 fertile eggs were treated with the same and greater intensities of pulsed ultraviolet light. After processing, eggs were placed in a commercial incubator under normal incubation conditions.
There was no significant effect of the pulsed ultraviolet light treatment on percent fertility, hatchability or hatch. Also, there were no significant effects on post-hatch observations, including chick livability and average bird weight at hatch or at 42 days of age.
"Our research supports the application of pulsed ultraviolet light as an effective antimicrobial intervention for both table and hatching eggs," Cassar said. "If the egg industry embraces pulsed ultraviolet light technology and applies it in its processing operations, food safety would be improved because of the reduced pathogen presence on the surface of the eggs. And that matters because 9% of all foodborne illness in the U.S. is associated with eggs."
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