O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade interna de ovos vermelhos de galinha de granja comercial
e de tipo caipira, mantidos sob diferentes condições de refrigeração e comercializados em supermercados,
mercados de bairros e na feira livre de Barreiras, Bahia. Foram adquiridos, semanalmente (sempre no mesmo
dia), 60 ovos, simulando um consumidor padrão, sendo 24 ovos vermelhos de granja comercial de dois
supermercados, 24 ovos vermelhos de granja comercial de dois mercados de bairro e 12 ovos tipo caipira da
feira livre. Os ovos obtidos nos diferentes estabelecimentos foram estocados sob refrigeração no fundo e na
porta de um refrigerador doméstico e em temperatura ambiente. A avaliação da qualidade dos ovos foi realizada
pelas determinações de peso médio do ovo, altura de albúmen, unidade Haugh, percentual do albúmen
e da gema. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância segundo delineamento inteiramente casualizado,
considerando como significativos os valores da probabilidade do valor de F menor que 5%. Com base
na qualidade interna dos ovos, concluiu-se que os mercadinhos foram os locais com a menor qualidade dos
ovos comercializados, enquanto os supermercados e a feira livre mostraram maior qualidade. O ambiente
refrigerado mostrou-se como o local mais adequado para a manutenção da qualidade de ovos armazenados
por um perÃodo de até 14 dias.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of eggs originated from commercial farms and home raised
layers, which are sold in supermarkets, small grocery stores and street markets in the city of Barreiras, Bahia.
These eggs were maintained under different storage conditions and the effect of temperature on the quality of
these products was also evaluated. Sixty eggs were purchased per week on the same weekday, simulating a normal
customer behavior: 24 were brown eggs from commercial farms purchased in two different supermarkets; 24
were brown eggs from commercial farms purchased in two smaller grocery stores; and 12 were brown eggs from
home raised layers purchased at a local street market. The eggs obtained from the different stores were subjected
to three regular household storage conditions: back of a refrigerator; refrigerator’s door; or at room temperature.
The eggs were assessed for average egg weight, albumen height, Haugh unit, and percentage of albumen and
yolk. The data were subjected to analysis of variance in a completely randomized design, and F-values lower than
5% were considered statistically significant. Based on the analysis of internal egg quality, it was concluded that
the lowest quality eggs were those purchased in small grocery stores and the best were bought in supermarkets
and in the local street market. The refrigerator is the best place to store eggs during periods up to14 days.
