What process is used to check eggs for cracks and interior defects?

Candling is a process primarily used to check eggs for cracks and internal defects. This method involves shining a bright light through the egg, allowing the inspector to see the contents of the egg and assess its quality. By illuminating the egg, one can easily identify various factors such as the size of the air cell, any blood spots, or other imperfections within the egg.

This technique is particularly valuable because it helps in determining the freshness and quality of the eggs without having to open them, which preserves their integrity. It is a traditional practice in the egg industry that enables producers and consumers alike to ensure that the eggs are safe and suitable for consumption.

Other methods, while useful for different purposes, do not specifically address the same aspects as candling. For example, inspection generally refers to a more general visual assessment of the surface and packaging of eggs rather than an internal examination like candling. Weight testing can help assess the freshness of eggs through their density, as older eggs lose moisture and therefore weight, but it does not reveal cracks or interior defects. Radiography involves using X-rays and is mainly utilized in research or advanced quality control scenarios rather than routine checks for consumer egg packaging. Thus, candling stands out as the most appropriate technique for examining the