Burnbrae Farms Boosts Egg-Processing Safety and Efficiency with Food‑Grade Lubricants

Every week, six million eggs pass through the Burnbrae Farms processing plant in Strathroy, Ontario—1.2 million eggs that are washed, graded, and packaged each day.

"We’re focused on two priorities," says senior plant supervisor Alex Davenport. "The eggs must be safe, and the machinery must run smoothly."

Burnbrae Farms is a family‑owned, Canada‑wide egg and egg‑product processor that prides itself on delivering the highest quality and safety standards. From the hen to the grocery shelf, the journey is long, but the six minutes from loader to carton are where Davenport’s vigilance is most critical. His role is to keep sorting and packing machines operating efficiently and to prevent breakage or misgrading. Federal law requires all eggs sold in retail stores and restaurants to be graded at a station that meets strict federal standards.

"Petro‑Canada is a leader in food‑grade lubricants," says Davenport, a 32‑year veteran. "Petro‑Canada’s PURITY FG lubricants are registered for use around our eggs—that’s the top reason we switched."

Meeting Food Safety Regulations

"We adopted HACCP three years ago, so we had to find an accredited food‑grade oil," says maintenance supervisor Pat Marentette. The HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system—endorsed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency—helps identify hazards and establish critical control points to eliminate or minimize risks. All of Petro‑Canada’s PURITY FG lubricants meet these high industry standards and fit seamlessly into HACCP and GMP plans.

"Safety is paramount in our industry," says Davenport. "That’s why we chose Petro‑Canada; they’re ahead of many other companies and invest heavily in research.”

Making the Grade

At Burnbrae Farms, eggs are stacked in plastic trays and fed through a loader. The loader is lined with black plastic ultra‑high molecular weight (UHMW) strips that guide the trays. A vacuum system lifts the eggs onto a washing conveyor, after which they’re candled—passed over a powerful light—to assess internal quality and grade out rejects.

Marentette uses PURITY FG WO on the loader and PURITY FG MF aerosol lubricant on stainless‑steel chains in the wash‑down areas. PURITY FG WO is an ultra‑pure, straight, non‑toxic white mineral oil with a stabilizer for extended shelf life, ideal for applications that require a clean, non‑toxic base. PURITY FG MF is a multi‑purpose aerosol lubricant with tackifiers that reduce spatters from moving parts, suitable for applications where incidental food contact may occur.

"I’ve seen much less wear on my transfer strips,” says Marentette. "I used to replace them every five months, and now I replace them only once a year."

Product Benefits

Petro‑Canada PURITY FG fluids and lubricants are blended from 99.9 % pure, crystal‑clear base oils produced via a patented HT Purity process and formulated to meet the rigorous demands of food processing while maintaining CFIA and NSF H1 food‑grade requirements.

Additionally, PURITY FG White Mineral Oil 15 is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for use as a protective oil on shell eggs processed in plants under the USDA voluntary shell‑egg grading program.

"PURITY FG WO is odorless, transparent, and much cleaner than what we used before. Removing excess is quick and easy," says Marentette.

A Winning Approach

Burnbrae Farms has earned a nomination for the Canadian Grand Prix New Product Award for four consecutive years. Their award‑winning products—Naturegg Omega 3, Naturegg Break Free, and Naturegg Omega Pro—are also recognized by the Heart and Stroke Health Check program, which only accepts products that promote good health and nutrition.

Davenport, with over 30 years in the industry, concludes, "Petro‑Canada’s food‑grade lubricants keep our machines running efficiently and safely. Beyond that, it’s simple: it’s an egg in a shell."