Fipronil​ - Pesticide In Eggs

Europe has destroyed millions of eggs because they contained traces of a dangerous insecticide Fipronil. But Maneka Sanjay Gandhi says that India's poultry and milk industry uses this freely, inspite of an international ban.

- Maneka Sanjay Gandhi

All over Europe eggs have been found to be contaminated by a dangerous pesticide called Fipronil. The eggs originated from poultry farms in Holland. Investigations into the illegal use of fipronil on poultry farms have led to 180 big poultries being shut down. Millions of eggs and egg-based products, such as salads, sandwiches, and mayonnaise have been pulled from supermarket shelves. So far, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, Sweden, Britain, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Denmark, Switzerland, and Hong Kong have found Fipronil in their eggs.

Fipronil is an insecticide not permitted for use around animals destined for consumption or in any products destined for the human food chain. What are the effects of consuming it? Sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and seizures. It can cause abnormalities of the thyroid, liver, and kidneys, if consumed by humans. Since researchers found thyroid tumours in both male and female rats fed with high doses, it has been classified as a ‘possible human carcinogen’ by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Scientists who fed fipronil to rats found an increase in seizures. In another study, scientists found long-term exposure to fipronil affecting the reproductive ability of rats, less mating, reduced fertility, smaller litter size, and increased loss of pregnancy. Scientists also found decreased survival and delayed development in offspring.