EGGCELLENT: All eggs samples from Srinagar test safe

Srinagar, Jan 9: Consume eggs as part of your daily diet without worry! A clean chit has been granted to eggs from Srinagar from national labs, clearing doubts that eggs are contaminated with antibiotic residue.

Samples of eggs that had been lifted for testing in December from Srinagar have been declared of standard quality and safe of contamination. Yameen ul Nabi, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety, told Greater Kashmir on Friday morning that reports have been received for all the samples of eggs that had been sent for testing from Srinagar.

"All samples of eggs lifted from Srinagar, which were sent for analytical purpose, have been declared of standard quality as per the standards set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India," he said.

Egg samples had been lifted from Srinagar and other parts of J&K after Eggoz brand controversy in some parts of India. The brand, as per a video circulated widely, had been found to have traces of Nitrofuran and it's metabolites, a banned antibiotic in poultry. The antibiotic residue beyond permissible limits, it was feared, could be a carcinogenic.

J&K Legislator Tanveer Sadiq had urged J&K administration to carry out testing of eggs available in markets of J&K. With the nationwide controversy, the Food Safety Department J&K had lifted samples from markets in Srinagar, Jammu and other districts and sent these for testing to national accredited labs of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

Eggoz, an organic eggs brand, as per FSSAI statement later in December had also been cleared of allegations. "Eggoz brand eggs meet the limit criteria as per the standards," it had said.

Eggoz brand eggs, the J&K Food Safety Department had said, is not sold in J&K.