New Delhi: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent reports claiming that eggs sold in the country contain carcinogenic substances, labeling such assertions as "misleading" and scientifically unfounded.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the food regulator assured the public that eggs available in the market are safe for human consumption. The clarification comes in response to a wave of social media posts and media reports alleging the presence of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ), a potential carcinogen, in eggs.
The FSSAI emphasized that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
Addressing the technical details, officials explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 microgram per kg is set for regulatory testing. This limit is merely the lowest level detectable by lab equipment, not a threshold for permitted use. "Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk," an official noted.
The authority cited scientific evidence to reassure consumers, stating there is "no established causal link" between trace-level dietary exposure to these metabolites and cancer in humans. No global health authority has associated normal egg consumption with an increased cancer risk.
Regarding specific reports about a particular egg brand, the FSSAI clarified that such findings are isolated and batch-specific, likely due to inadvertent contamination. "Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect," the regulator stated.
The FSSAI urged consumers to ignore the alarmist rumors and continue viewing eggs as a "safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet."
(Inputs from IANS)