Standards agency say 700,000 contaminated eggs may have been distributed in UK
NAN-F-34
Eggs
London, Aug. 10, 2017 (Xinhua/NAN) The UK Food Standards Agency on Thursday said 700,000 eggs from Dutch farms affected by the insecticide Fipronil may have been distributed in Britain.
According to a statement by the agency, previous, it was estimated that the number was just 21,000.
The agency said the figure increased significantly, and it is “very unlikely” that there is any risk to public health from consuming these foods.
While in some European countries eggs containing Fipronil residues have been sold as fresh eggs, in the UK this is not the case.
Many of the eggs involved were mixed with other eggs which have not come from affected farms so Fipronil residues will be highly diluted.
According to the agency, the products affected are processed foods in which egg is one ingredient among many others, mostly used in sandwich fillings or other chilled foods.
Fipronil is a common ingredient in veterinary products for getting rid of fleas, lice and ticks in chickens.
Some 85 per cent of the eggs consumed in Britain are laid in the country.
The egancy said there is no evidence that eggs laid in the UK are contaminated or that Fipronil has been used inappropriately in the UK.
According to the agency, testing of eggs on farms is underway across the UK and results to date for England and Wales show no exposure to Fipronil.(Xinhua/NAN)
NAN reports that Dutch authorities recalled millions of eggs at the beginning of the month over fears that they were contaminated with the insecticide Fipronil. (Xinhua/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Sadiya Hamza