EGG GRADING

THE IMPORTANCE OF UV DISINFECTION

Cleaning not only the eggs but also the rollers

Moba egg graders are packed with technology. Some designs are worth further investigation as they represent crucial customer value. UV disinfection is a feature found on many types of food handling and processing machines, including egg graders. But what is it and why is it important?

The UV unit not only cleans eggs but also the rollers

All Moba graders can be equipped with UV disinfection. This system is a unit under which eggs rotate on rollers long enough to ensure that even the biggest egg will make at least one full rotation. Special lamps are mounted in this unit, emitting the most effective UV light. This UV-C light has a wavelength of 254nm and is used at an intensity that effectively reduces all forms of salmonella species. This UV-C exists in sunlight but is for the most part filtered by our atmosphere. Lamps however can generate this type of light very effectively. And because it is the most dangerous type of light, special tunnel constructions protect the entry and exit of the unit so that no harmful light can escape. The UV-C light not only reaches the eggshells but also shines directly on the rotating rollers. And this is perhaps even more important, as it prevents the rollers from building up contamination that could potentially cross-contaminate other eggs.

Repeated tests show the positive effect

99.9% of eggshell surface contamination is erased. This is called a log 3 reduction and in itself provides a 1000x smaller risk. The results for heavily contaminated rollers are even better: after 7 passes under UV light the contamination is no longer measurable. The outcome of the first test in 2006 is available and has been scientifically published. Later tests have shown similar results. The tests also ensure that the egg content is not affected at all.

UV light is not a magic trick that solves all hygienic problems, but it is a very valuable step in a hygienic program. UV light is a natural phenomenon and is present in everyday sunlight. Infected eggs are not perse cured by exposing them to UV but the chances for crosscontamination are reduced more than a thousand times. The chance that the rollers of the grader itself become a source of cross-contamination is almost zero. Because of this, it forms a barrier that is difficult to pass for serious contamination, when used in combination with other good hygienic practices, of course.

In Omnia PX more use of UV

All Moba machines can be equipped with a UV unit on the infeed roller conveyor. The Omnia PX series goes one step further than any other grader in the world. All egg touching surfaces have disinfecting properties and in some cases, this is also achieved by the use of UV light units. In other situations, where UV light is impossible to implement, industrial plastics with disinfecting properties called “Ovoshield” are used.

For more information, visit www.moba.net