Are the eggs you eat for breakfast safe? Doctor says beware of this one substance

Recently, brand 'Eggoz Nutrition' has found itself in a controversy over claims that its eggs can cause cancer. (Picture Credit: Pexels)

Premium egg brand 'Eggoz Nutrition' has found itself in the middle of a controversy. The allegation is that the brand has been using a particular chemical that is banned in poultry farming, because it is linked to potentially causing cancer.

This controversy happened when YouTube channel Trustified sent the sample of Eggoz eggs to independent lab for testing. For the uninitiated, the channel keeps on sending health products to the lab for blind testing.

Later, the channel released a report saying the samples of Eggoz eggs that were sent for testing have tested positive for AOZ, a metabolite of antibiotics nitrofuran and nitroimidazole. Even though as per finding, it was found to be 0.73 parts per billion, the brand's claim that its products are 100% antibiotic free is allegedly false.

A lot of people are up in the arms, because as consumers of the brand they pay a premium price for good products. However, the allegation that the eggs contain traces of a banned, potential carcinogen has made many furious.

The brand said in its statement, that was released on December 9, that their product remains safe and technically compliant with Indian regulations, which allow for a tiny margin of residue to account for unavoidable environmental factors like contaminated groundwater.

The brand also said, In a statement posted on Instagram, the brand defended its processes, and said, "We are aware of a video that is currently being shared and understand that it may have raised some questions and concerns. We want to reassure our consumers that our eggs are safe for consumption and comply with the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)."

Moneycontrol team reached out to Dr Saurabh Arora, Managing Director, Auriga Research, to understand how the banned substances nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles can cause harm to consumers.

Dr Arora said that banned substances nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles are essentially antibiotics that were once used in poultry to treat infections. "In many cases they were administered indiscriminately, with entire flocks kept under a constant cover of antibiotics. This is precisely why their use is now completely prohibited," he shared.

He told Moneycontrol that when residue of these antibiotics enter food such as eggs, they pose two serious risks. "The first is antimicrobial resistance. Even if the residue is present at a low level, repeated exposure of these to the human gut can make bacteria and other microorganisms gradually resistant to multiple drugs. India is already battling rising multidrug resistance due to misuse of antibiotics in humans, and residues in food further accelerate this problem," he highlighted.

Talking about the second risk the residue of the antibiotics pose to humans, the doctor said it is allergic reactions, as some individuals are sensitive to these antibiotics. "In such cases, traces of smaller quantities can trigger severe reactions," the doctor concluded.

Dr Arora explained that it is exactly for these two reasons, regulators require these substances to be absent, with acceptable levels set at the limit of detection of advanced testing technologies. "Modern LC-MS/MS systems can detect as low as 0.01 ppb, ensuring that residues are effectively prevented from entering the food chain, including in animal products like eggs," he added.