| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (14) for marking an egg (10) with a freshness indicium (12), such as a date upon which the egg was laid. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, eggs are collected as they are laid and are prepared for packing. A printing device (18), such as a computer (22) with attached ink jet printer (20), is programmed to apply the current date (12) onto each of the eggs (10) as it passes a printing station. All of the eggs (10) laid within a particular twenty-four hour period are printed with this date (12). The eggs (10) are then packaged and shipped to consumers and/or wholesale and retail outlets for sale to a consumer. Because each egg (10) is individually dated with its laid-on date (12), the ultimate consumer of the egg (10) will always know the exact age of the egg (10) prior to purchase and, subsequently, consumption.
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