Retailers, government agencies and the egg industry alike are continually working to ensure that the food shoppers consume is fresh and safe. That’s important, because in a recent survey nearly seven out of ten egg buyers said they were more worried about the safety of the food they purchase than they were a year ago.

Given the important role they play in many homes, eggs a receiving particular attention. The Egg Safety Action Plan, initiated by the President’s Council on Food Safety, is a comprehensive farm-to-table set of activities with the goal of eliminating egg-associated Salmonella enteritidis illnesses by 2010. Egg safety is also receiving attention at a state level. In April 2006, the Commonwealth of Kentucky adopted legislation mandating the existence of emergency recall plans for eggs (2006 House Bill 442).

An egg traceability system is already mandated throughout Europe. The European Union introduced legislation in January of 2004 requiring that all retail eggs be stamped with a code identifying the production site, country of origin and method of production (organic, free-range, barn or cage), along with a "best before" date.

While origin or traceability coding on individual eggs is not yet required in the United States, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) has accepted EggFusion’s laser etching process for use on eggs—the only accepted etching solution of its kind. As part of the USDA review process, EggFusion worked with multiple independent laboratories to confirm that the process does not negatively impact the quality of the shell or the edible portion of the egg.

Unfortunately, like in life, bad things happen to good eggs. By permanently adding Freshness and Traceability Coding to eggs, consumers like you are empowered with information that helps you always know how fresh your eggs are—even if you choose to discard the packaging.