Srinagar: The government on Thursday directed an investigation into reports of presence of toxic drug residues in the eggs sold in local markets.
Pertinently, ruling party legislator from Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq had also raised concerns about the issue in the face of the controversy over the alleged presence of traces of antibiotics linked to cancer risks in the 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.
The legislator 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.
Sadiq also urged Health Minister Sakina Itoo and Food and Supplies Minister Satish Sharma to conduct market-wide testing.
Following the post, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Satish Sharma, issued a letter to the 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.
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 allegedly 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.
