The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) issued a firm clarification on Saturday, dismissing recent claims that eggs in India pose a cancer risk. The regulatory body labeled such allegations as “scientifically unsupported” and warned that they create “unnecessary public alarm.”
The statement comes in response to viral social media posts and media reports suggesting that eggs contain carcinogenic nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ). FSSAI officials clarified that nitrofurans are strictly prohibited in poultry production under the 2011 Food Safety Regulations.
According to FSSAI, an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 ug/kg has been set for nitrofuran metabolites solely for regulatory enforcement. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.
The FSSAI further reassured the public that India’s standards align with the EU and US, noting that isolated cases of contamination do not reflect the safety of the nation’s entire egg supply.
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