Hatching egg sanitization for prevention or reduction of human enteropathogens: A review

Hatching egg sanitization has been a somewhat controversial issue for more than 50 yr. Many in the hatching egg industry oppose wetting of fertile egg s. Nevertheless, research has been published on the problem of lowering bac terial contamination of hatching eggs without adversely affecting hatchabil ity. As on-farm and hatchery Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point program s become a reality, more and more companies will become interested in how t o best prevent human enteropathogen colonization in chicks. It is possible to effectively lower bacterial contamination on the eggs and in the hatchin g cabinet and thus reduce the level of human enteropathogens being placed i n grow houses with the chicks. Information gleaned from both early and rece nt egg-sanitizing efforts can be useful in designing the best overall egg a nd hatchery sanitization program.