Study of the effects of coating materials on the growth of bacteria on egg shell, yolk and albumen of table eggs

Bacteria contamination is a serious concern when it comes to food products and this includes table eggs. Table eggs are those eggs that are laid by chickens and they are unfertilized and can be consumed by people. Contamination of table eggs can cause food-borne illness to people who consume them. This study was conducted to isolate and identify the bacteria that grew on the egg shell, yolk and albumen of table eggs that have been coated with different types of coating materials. The effect of different coating materials on the growth of bacteria on egg shell, yolk and albumen of table eggs was determined. Nine chicken eggs were collected. The eggs were divided into three groups (three eggs were left uncoated in the first group, three eggs were coated with virgin coconut oil in the second group and three eggs were coated with propolis extract solution in the third group). A total of nine bacteria strain were isolated from the eggshell of the eggs that were left uncoated. A total of two bacteria strain were isolated from the eggshell of the eggs that were coated with virgin coconut oil. No bacteria strain was collected from the eggshell of the eggs that were coated with the propolis extract solution. There were no bacteria strain isolated from the contents (egg yolk and albumen) of both the coated eggs and non-coated eggs. Gram's positive bacteria (Staphylococcus spp.) were found predominantly on the eggshells of the eggs that were left uncoated and coated with virgin coconut oil. It was found that there were some Gram's negative bacteria found on the eggshells of the non-coated eggs. It was found that applying propolis extract solution as coating material of the eggs had entirely stopped the growth of both the Gram's positive and Gram's negative bacteria on the eggshells. It was concluded that the propolis extract solution was the best coating material to prevent bacterial contamination of table eggs