Value Perception of Shell Egg Characteristics as Determined by Size and Colour

Shell eggs consumed in Sokoto metropolis of Nigeria were characterized and assessed for consumer perception and preferences. Means for weight, length, width and shape index of the eggs were 53.11 ±5.37g, 5.29± 0.25cm, 4.23±0.16cm and 0.80±0.03, respectively. Additionally, there were more (61.38%) dark tinted eggs than light coloured ones, which represent only 38.62% of eggs sampled. A consumer perception survey undertaken identified, in order of importance; size, colour, cleanliness, shape, weight and freshness as the major perceived quality attributes. The preferred characteristics were correspondingly large size, dark shell colour, cleanliness, normal shape, heaviness and freshness. Colour and size on one hand were considered to be more important (P < 0.05) than all the other attributes, among which there were no significant differences. Based on the result of the survey, egg size and colour were selected for in-depth psychophysical testing. It was observed that large-sized eggs were significantly more preferred than small sized ones and there was no significant difference in preference for shell colour. When size and colour were permutated in a single test, there was greater preference (P < 0.05) for large sized eggs regardless of their colour. This validates the study, stressing the importance of size as the most important value attribute. The concordance of the survey results with results from sensory evaluation with regards to preference for egg size indicates that, under certain situations, survey could be used in place of the relatively costlier sensory evaluation.