Jumpstart

EggFusion, Boulder, CO, offers a USDA-accepted solution for applying permanent, tamperproof laser-etched markings to the surfaces of eggshells. The process uses laser light to leave a micro-thin darkened mark on white eggs and a lightened mark on brown eggs, which does not increase crack potential. EggFusion has developed two separate on-egg services designed to promote public safety and also enhance relationships between retailers, advertisers, producers and consumers: Freshness and Traceability Coding and On-egg Messaging. Since introducing freshness and traceability coding in May 2005, the company has etched over 300 million eggs with an easy-to-read expiration date applied to each eggshell. The code provides consumers with information about the freshness of the eggs they eat, including when and where they were packaged.