Quality assessment of marketed eggs in Hanoi (Vietnam)

Poultry farming is the first sector of livestock that has been industrialized. The poultry sector plays an important role in the GDP of Vietnam. It is the second largest livestock after the pig livestock. The production and consumption of eggs in Vietnam is estimated as 5.64 billion and 102.6 eggs per person per year respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of eggs in relation to the chicken breed and different marketing channels in Hanoi, Vietnam. In total, 431 chicken eggs were purchased from four different marketing channels in Hanoi, including households (89 eggs), supermarkets (152 eggs), public markets (130 eggs) and small grocery stores (50 eggs). Out of the 431 above-mentioned eggs, 119 eggs came from the commercial chicken breeds and 312 eggs from traditional local breeds. The quality of eggs for a consumer is represented by its cleanliness, nutritional quality, freshness, and price. A series of measurements is carried out just after their purchase. According to the breed and the marketing channel, highly significant differences (P <0.05) were found in the freshness of the eggs (Haugh units), egg prices, eggs weight, egg shell, the white and the yolk of the egg. Though the chicken breed and marketing channels do not significantly affect (P> 0.05) the freshness of the eggs, however, they have a significant effect (P <0.05) on the size of the eggs marketed in Hanoi. The results of this study show an important diversity in marketing channels and marketed eggs in Hanoi.