Effects of Marketing Channels and Season on Weight and Quality Grades Classification According to Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization standard of Fresh Commercial Table Eggs Marketed in Riyadh City (Saudi Arabia)

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to assess egg quality by identifying quality grades and weight class classification of fresh commercial Table eggs marketed in the city of Riyadh during winter and the summer seasons, and comparing the measured traits rendering to the Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization. A total of 480 eggs were purchased from two different channels of marketing, four supermarkets and four grocery stores located in different areas of the city of Riyadh during summer and the winter seasons. It appeared from the outcomes that the eggs purchased from the supermarkets had significantly higher AA and A Haugh units, albumin pH and AA air cell grades and medium egg weight class, and they also had lower B and C Haugh units, albumen pH, A and B air cell depth grades, and very large, large and small eggs weight classes percentages than those obtained from grocery stores. Over and above, the eggs obtained in the winter had significantly higher AA and A Haugh unit, albumin pH, AA air cell depth grades percentages, very large and large egg weight class percentages, and had less B and C Haugh unit and albumen pH and B air cell depth grades and small weight class percentages than those obtained in the summer. In summary, marketing channels and season play a significant role in affecting quality traits of Table eggs, also those procured from supermarkets and in the winter presented better quality than those obtained from groceries or in the summer, respectively. Grocery stores or small shops have to follow proper handling and storage conditions requirements to maintain good quality of Table eggs, especially in the summer season.摘要 本研究旨在通过对利雅得市冬、夏两季上市的市售商品鲜食鸡蛋进行品质等级划分与重量分级，以此评估其蛋品品质，并将测定的相关性状与海湾阿拉伯国家合作委员会标准化组织（Gulf Cooperation Council Standardization Organization）的标准进行比对。研究共采购480枚鸡蛋，样本分别于夏季与冬季从利雅得市不同区域的两类销售渠道获取，涵盖4家超市与4家杂货店。 结果显示，相较于杂货店采购的鸡蛋，超市采购的鸡蛋其AA级、A级哈氏单位（Haugh units）、蛋白pH值、AA级气室等级以及中等重量分级鸡蛋占比均显著更高，而B级、C级哈氏单位、蛋白pH值、A级与B级气室深度等级，以及特大、大、小型重量分级鸡蛋的占比则显著更低。 此外，冬季采集的鸡蛋相较于夏季采集的鸡蛋，其AA级、A级哈氏单位、蛋白pH值、AA级气室深度等级占比，以及特大、大型重量分级鸡蛋占比均显著更高，而B级、C级哈氏单位、蛋白pH值、B级气室深度等级以及小型重量分级鸡蛋占比则显著更低。 综上，销售渠道与季节均对鲜食鸡蛋的品质性状存在显著影响；其中，超市采购的鲜食鸡蛋与冬季采集的鲜食鸡蛋品质分别优于杂货店采购的鸡蛋与夏季采集的鲜食鸡蛋。杂货店等小型商铺需遵循规范的操作与储存标准要求，以维持鲜食鸡蛋的优良品质，夏季时节尤为关键。