Some quality characteristics of eggs marketed in North of West Bank (Palestine)

A total of 720 eggs were purchased from three different places : supermarke ts, public markets, and broiler selling shops, were examined for shell clea nliness, Haugh unit, yolk color, and shell thickness. Price per kg egg mass was also calculated for the three different consumer channels mentioned ab ove. Source of eggs found to have a significant effect on egg weight, Hugh unit and price per kg egg mass. Eggs obtained from super markets had significant ly (P < 0.05) the lowest weight, the highest (P < 0.01) percentage of weigh t class 'small' and 'pewee', and stained, checked eggs. Similarly, eggs fro m super markets had the lowest interior quality. However, these eggs were o f more shell thickness and the more prices per egg mass unit. Most of the eggs tested were of grade (AA) in regard to the interior qualit y. However, eggs obtained from the broiler selling shops had the highest pe rcentages of the 'jumbo' and the 'extra large' grades.