Ultraviolet Light, Hydrogen Peroxide, Peracetic Acid, and Ozone as Sanitizers for Hatching Eggs: A Review

Sanitizing hatching eggs has become increasingly recommended as a strategy to reduce infections, limit the spread of bacteria, and promote healthier conditions for developing embryos. The absence of this procedure can contribute to lower hatchability rates in commercial hatcheries. Therefore, investigating different sanitizers applied to hatching eggs is essential. This review synthesized evidence from Google Scholar up to June 2026, examining the effects of ultraviolet light (UV), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peracetic acid (PAA), and ozone (O3) on eggshell bacterial load, eggshell structural integrity, and hatchability. The findings reveal that these sanitizers have the potential to reduce eggshell bacterial load without apparently causing significant structural alterations or compromising hatchability. However, it also became clear that outcomes depend strongly on the protocol configuration, as adverse effects may occur under different conditions, such as concentration, exposure time, or application method. Overall, UV, H2O2, PAA, and O3 can be used to sanitize hatching eggs, if protocols prioritize microbiological safety without impairing embryonic performance, thereby avoiding negative impacts on hatchability rates.