Steep Drop in Manufactured Egg Use

WASHINGTON - May 3/02 - STAT -- Food manufacturers in the United States reported a steep year over year drop in the quantity of shells eggs used, though year to date figures remain ahead of last year's totals, according to the latest data compiled by the USDA.

Shell eggs broken totaled 141 million dozen during March 2002, down 6% from March a year ago. During calendar year 2002, shell eggs broken totaled 432 million dozen, up 1% from the 426 billion dozen broken in 2001. Total edible liquid from eggs broken in 2002 was 550 million pounds, up 1% from 2001.

              Shell Eggs Broken:  Federally Inspected, Cumulative,
                      United States, January-March, 2001-02
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                                        :           Period            :  2002
             Inspected Item             :-----------------------------: as % of
                                        :Jan-Mar, 2001 :Jan-Mar, 2002 :  2001
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                                        :   ----- 1,000 Dozen ----     %
                                        :
Shell Eggs Broken                       :   425,953        432,265        101
                                        :   ---- 1,000 Pounds ----     %
                                        :
Edible Liquid from Shell Eggs Broken    :
  Whole                                 :   321,862        333,121        103
  White                                 :   141,403        140,586         99
  Yolk                                  :    78,555         75,897         97
                                        :
  Total                                 :   541,820        549,604        101
                                        :
Inedible Liquid from Shell Eggs Broken  :    52,813         55,308        105
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