Govt orders probe after carcinogenic drug residues found in eggs

Srinagar, Dec 11: The government on Thursday directed an immediate investigation into reports of banned carcinogenic substances in eggs sold in local markets, following concerns raised by legislator Tanvir Sadiq.

This follows the growing controversy over allegedly detected traces of antibiotics linked to cancer risks in the premium egg brand Eggoz.

In a post on the microblogging site ‘X’, Sadiq expressed concern over the detection of nitrofuran and nitroimidazole residues in eggs.

“(These) drugs (are) strictly banned for use in food-producing animals due to their toxic and carcinogenic effects,” he posted.

According to reports, independent lab tests have detected traces of prohibited antibiotics in the eggs, suggesting that these could cause cancer.

The legislator has highlighted the danger that such eggs could pose to vulnerable groups, including children, seniors, and patients who rely on eggs as a key source of protein.

He also urged Health Minister Sakina Itoo and Food and Supplies Minister Satish Sharma to conduct market-wide testing.

The post referred to a recent investigative report, ‘Cancer-Causing Eggs by Eggoz?’

Following the post, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, issued a letter to Controller Legal Metrology Department seeking immediate action to address the concern.

“It has come to the notice of the Minister for FCS&CA, Transport, S&T, IT, YSS, and ARI & Trainings, J&K Government, through X handle of Tanvir Sadiq, MLA, J&K Legislative Assembly, regarding the reports of adulterated eggs being sold in the market,” the letter states.

Through the letter, the minister has directed the department to examine and verify the issue urgently and submit a report “within two days positively for kind perusal of the minister”.

However, it is yet not clear whether the Food Safety Department, which is mandated with testing of food samples and ensuring safe edibles, has been roped in to get the eggs tested.

The chemicals detected in some of the egg samples are nitrofuran metabolites, mainly AOZ, AMOZ, AHD, and SEM, and nitroimidazole metabolites like ronidazole or metronidazole residues.

These veterinary antibiotics have been strictly banned in food-producing animals – poultry, fish, cattle - in India, the EU, the US, and most other countries.

Nitrofuran metabolites are recognised as genotoxic carcinogens; they can directly damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer even at very low doses.

There is no safe level recognised for these residues at any detectable amount.

Nitroimidazoles are also possible carcinogens to humans and are linked to tumours in animal studies on rodents.

They are additionally neurotoxic and can cause mutagenic effects.