FSSAI Declares Eggs Safe for Consumption, Rejects Claims of Carcinogenic Contamination

New Delhi, Dec 2025 : Amid growing concerns triggered by recent reports of cancer-causing contaminants in eggs, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday firmly dismissed the claims, asserting that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption. The national food regulator described the reports as “misleading” and cautioned that such narratives are “not supported scientifically” and risk creating unwarranted public fear.

Over the past week, several media articles and social media posts alleged that eggs in India contained traces of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ), substances classified as carcinogenic. These claims sparked widespread anxiety among consumers, prompting questions around the safety of one of India’s most widely consumed protein sources.

Responding to the controversy, FSSAI officials reiterated that nitrofurans are banned at every stage of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011. The regulator clarified that the presence of an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 micrograms per kg for nitrofuran metabolites exists solely for enforcement and laboratory detection purposes.

Officials stressed that this benchmark does not imply that the chemical is permissible. Instead, it defines the lowest concentration that current testing technologies can reliably detect. “Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk,” the regulator stated, noting that negligible traces are commonly associated with analytical limitations rather than actual misuse.

FSSAI highlighted that India’s standards are in alignment with international practices. Both the United States and the European Union prohibit the use of nitrofurans in animals raised for food and apply similar residue thresholds strictly to assist in regulatory enforcement. FSSAI noted that numerical differences between countries reflect variable testing capabilities and regulatory methodologies—and do not signal any discrepancy in safety standards for consumers.

Addressing broader public health concerns, the regulator cited scientific findings confirming that no causal link exists between low-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health effects in humans. FSSAI emphasised that no national or global health authority has associated the consumption of eggs with increased cancer risk, reinforcing that the current alarm lacks scientific foundation.

The organisation also responded to reports regarding the testing of a particular egg brand, clarifying that such detections are isolated and dependent on specific batches. They may stem from factors like feed contamination or accidental exposure, and cannot be used as evidence to characterise the country’s entire egg production system. “Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect,” officials said.

Reassuring consumers, the FSSAI urged the public to depend on credible scientific evaluations and verified regulatory communications, rather than unverified claims circulating online. Eggs, the authority affirmed, “remain a safe, nutritious and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.”

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)