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Danny Lee

Samples of eggs on sale in Hong Kong have been found to be tainted with unsafe levels of insecticide as a ­contamination that began in the Netherlands continues to spread.
The Centre for Food Safety revealed on Friday that two samples of Dutch eggs exceeded the local legal limit for Fipronil, a highly toxic pest control chemical banned from the production of food.
The tested samples showing unsafe levels of ­Fipronil are sold under the product name Cheer Fresh Dutch Brown Eggs.




Dutch farms confirmed to have insecticide- ­tainted eggs were known to have shipped products to Hong Kong, the European Commission said.
However, the centre said that no eggs originally found by the commission as not fit for human consumption were imported into Hong Kong.
That would indicate the two samples tested by the local food safety watchdog were a new batch of ­affected eggs from the Netherlands.

The centre said in its statement: “Members of the public who have bought [affect eggs] should not ­consume them.”
It added that the poultry industry should “also stop using or selling the affected batch of the product immediately should they possess it”.
Local authorities have not issued instructions for an across-the-board withdrawal of eggs from the market.


But the centre noted official testing of eggs from the affected European countries had been stepped up.
The toxic poultry scandal started on August 1, with Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands recalling millions of eggs amid the scare.

Other affected EU countries are France, Sweden, Britain, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Denmark, commission spokesman Daniel Rosario said, as well as non-EU member Switzerland.
Dutch, Belgians launch raids as Europe’s contaminated eggs scandal grows
The consumption of eggs tainted with Fipronil, often used to kill lice and fleas, poses low risks to ­public health, according to the World Health ­Organisation.
But the WHO said that, when digested in large quantities, the chemical could cause harm to the ­kidneys, liver and thyroid glands.
When the food scare began in Europe, the centre claimed, it inspected major retailers in the city.
Food safety scandal erupts in Europe over eggs contaminated with insecticide
“The centre has taken preventative measures, ­including stepping up inspection of imported eggs from the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium,” she added.
Speaking before the centre’s revelation on Friday, Anca Paduraru, a commission spokeswoman on public health and food safety, said: “What we know is that eggs were transported from this contaminated farm to Hong Kong. We don’t know if they were placed in the market [for sale or production], or if the eggs were contaminated. We don’t know yet if there is an impact on Hong Kong.”
Local supermarket chain ParknShop said it was “very concerned” and pledged to “closely communicate” with the centre and “follow its instruction”.
There can be no compromise on food safety
Its competitor, Wellcome, went further and claimed its customers could obtain a refund on the purchase of eggs from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“Food safety is Wellcome’s first priority. We are very concerned about the issue and maintain close contact with the Centre for Food Safety in order to take prompt action accordingly,” a company ­spokesman said.
“Customers can bring the product along with the receipt to the store for either a merchandise ­exchange or refund when they have queries about the products purchased,” he added.
Additional reporting by Peace Chiu and AFP


Europe eggs scandal hits Hong Kong after unsafe level of insecticide confirmed

Authorities said Hong Kong’s poultry industry and major retailers were inspecting eggs now in the market. Photo: Felix Wong

epaselect epa06123051 Eggs being destroyed at a poultry farm in Onstwedde, the Netherlands, 03 August 2017. The eggs are being destroyed on the order of the Dutch Food and Welfare Authority (NVWA) after it was discovered they contain toxic levels of the pesticide Fipronil. EPA/PATRICK HUISMAN

Eggs are destroyed at a chicken farm in Nadrin, Houffalize, on August 9, 2017. Dutch and Belgian investigators launched joint raids on August 10, 2017 over Europe's insecticide-tainted egg scare as Britain said it had imported far more contaminated eggs than originally revealed. The spiralling scandal also spread to an eighth country, Luxembourg, which announced that it too had found eggs containing the insecticide fipronil, which can be harmful to human health. / AFP PHOTO / Belga / KOEN BLANCKAERT / Belgium OUT

EU calls for end to ‘blaming and shaming’ as contaminated eggs scandal spreads to Asia

Eggs from a supermarket in London. Photo: EPA

A laboratory technician of the Bavarian State Office of Health and Food Safety (Bayerische Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit) checks eggs for the harmful insecticide fipronil in a laboratory in Erlangen, Germany, August 10, 2017. REUTERS/Andreas Gebert

Dutch, Belgians launch raids as Europe’s contaminated eggs scandal grows

A warning letter reads ‘The Dutch agency for food security (NVWA) has announced that some eggs contain too high fipronil content. Keep close contact with the NVWA and our egg suppliers and pick up eggs listed by the NVWA list of the shelf. If you want more information about consuming eggs, please consult the NVWA site’ at a supermarket. Photo: AFP

(FILES) This file photo taken on August 1, 2017 shows a laboratory assistant of the Dutch food and product safety board NVWA investigating eggs after fipronil was found in samples of eggs. Lots of eggs from Netherlands contaminated by Fipronil, a banned pesticide, reached France, the French Agriculture minister announced on August 7, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / ANP / Piroschka van de Wouw / Netherlands OUT

A picture taken on August 1, 2017 in Putten, shows eggs at a poultry farm. The farm has been shut down by the Dutch food and product safety board NVWA after fipronil was found in samples of eggs. The chemical is classed as a ‘moderately hazardous pesticide’ by the World Health Organisation. In the Netherlands it is banned in the poultry sector. / AFP PHOTO / ANP / Robin van Lonkhuijsen / Netherlands OUT

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Local watchdog finds presence of highly toxic pest control chemical Fipronil and urges poultry industry to immediately pull named product


Europe eggs scandal hits Hong Kong after unsafe level of insecticide confirmed

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Local watchdog finds presence of highly toxic pest control chemical Fipronil and urges poultry industry to immediately pull named product

Local watchdog finds presence of highly toxic pest control chemical Fipronil and urges poultry industry to immediately pull named product