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Chicken egg sizes

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Chicken eggs are graded by size, for the purpose of sales. The egg shell constitutes 8–9% of the weight of the egg (calculated from data in Table 2, F. H. Harms).{{cite CiteSeerX

Animal welfare

According to Tom Vasey, chair of the British Free Range Producers' Association, laying larger eggs is painful for the hen. He recommends shoppers only to buy eggs of medium or smaller sizes. Professor Christine Nicol of the University of Bristol has stated 'There is no strong evidence of pain in egg-laying hens but it's not unreasonable to think there may be a mismatch in the size of birds and the eggs they produce. We do often spot bloodstains on large eggs.'

United States

The United States Department of Agriculture sizing is based by weight per dozen.{{cite web|url=https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/eggs/shell-eggs-farm-table#17|title=Sizing of eggs

The following egg masses including shell have been calculated on the basis of the USDA sizing per dozen:

Size	Minimum mass per egg	url=http://www.gourmetsleuth.com/leftovereggwhites.htm
70.9 g	2.5 oz.	61 ml (4.125 tbsp)
63.8 g	2.25 oz.	56 ml (4 tbsp)
56.8 g	2 oz.	46 ml (3.25 tbsp)
49.6 g	1.75 oz.	43 ml (3 tbsp)
42.5 g	1.5 oz.
35.4 g	1.25 oz.

Canada

In Canada, modern egg sizes are defined as follows:

Size	Minimum mass per egg	Jumbo	Extra Large	Large	Medium	Small	Peewee
70 g
63 g
56 g
49 g
42 g

Europe

In Europe, modern egg sizes are defined as follows.

Size	Mass range per egg	Extra large (XL)	Large (L)	Medium (M)	Small (S)
≥ 73 g
≥ 63 g and
≥ 53 g and

Post-Soviet countries

In countries which are members of Interstate Council for Standardization, Metrology and Certification: Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Turkmenistan eggs are sorted into five categories by mass:

Category	Mass range per egg	Highest (В)	Select (О)	First (1)	Second (2)	Third (3)
75 g
65 g – 74.9 g
55 g – 64.9 g
45 g – 54.9 g
35 g – 44.9 g

Australia

In Australia, the Australian Egg Corporation defines the following sizes in its labeling guide.

Size	Pack weight (12 eggs)	Mass range per egg	Average mass per egg
860 g	71.7 g – 78.5 g	73 g	64 g
800 g	66.7 g – 71.6 g	68 g	59 g
700 g	58.3 g – 66.6 g	60 g	52 g
600 g	50.0 g – 58.2 g	52 g	45 g
500 g	41.7 g – 49.9 g	43 g	37 g

New Zealand

In New Zealand, sizes are based on the minimum mass per egg. Current sizing introduced in 1973; prior to 1973, sizes were based on the minimum mass per dozen eggs in ounces: 15 (now 4), 18 (now 5), 22 (now 6) and 26 (now 7).

Size	Minimum mass per egg	Jumbo (8)	Large (7)	Standard (6)	Medium (5)	Pullet (4)
68 g
62 g
53 g
44 g
35 g

Brazil

In Brazil sizes are based on the mass:

Size	Jumbo	Extra	Large (Grande)	Medium (Médio)
68 g
58 g to 67.99 g
48 g to 57.99 g
38 g to 47.99 g

Thailand

In Thailand sizes are based on minimum mass per egg.

No.	Size	Minimum mass per egg	0	1	2	3	4	5
Jumbo	70 g
Extra large	65 g to 70 g
Large	60 g to 65 g
Medium	55 to 60 g
Small	50 g to 55 g
Peewee	45 g to 50 g

Japan

In Japan, the Japan Egg Association lists the following sizes:

Size	Mass per egg	LL	L	M	MS	S	SS
70 g to 76 g
64 g to 70 g
58 g to 64 g
52 g to 58 g
46 g to 52 g
40 g to 46 g

South Africa

In South Africa sizes are based on the mass. :

Size	Super Jumbo	Jumbo	Extra-Large	Large	Medium	Small
72 g
66 g
59 g
51 g
43 g
33 g

References

(2009-03-11). "Buying large eggs is cruel, shoppers told". [[The Times]].
Zoe Williams. (12 March 2009). "Let's lay off large eggs!". [[The Guardian]].
"What to Do With Egg Whites". gourmetsleuth.com/.
(2013-04-26). "Egg Regulations C.R.C., c. 284".
(2010). "UNECE Standard EGG-1 concerning the marketing and commercial quality control of eggs-in-shell". [[United Nations]].
"ГОСТ 31654-2012 Food chicken eggs. Specifications".
"Egg Labelling Guide – Guide to Australian laws, regulations and standards for egg producers". Australian Egg Corporation.
"Egg Labelling". Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand.
(19 April 1973). "Metricated eggs". [[The Press]].
(2025-04-01). "Ovos grandes e menores? Regras alteram classificação e preço".
"Portaria MAPA/SDA Nº 1179 DE 05/09/2024 - Federal - LegisWeb".
(2010-12-28). "TAS 6702-2010". National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.
"タマゴQ&A 「色・形編」". 日本卵業協会.
"Classification Packaging of Eggs - Poultry Farming in South Africa".

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