More Hongkongers avoiding European eggs, hitting sales amid scandal
Egg sellers in the city say sales affected despite assurances from officials that European eggs in the city are safe
Sales of European eggs in Hong Kong have taken a hit amid an ongoing toxic poultry scandal, which has spread to 17 countries and regions.
Customers in the city are cautious about all eggs imported from the continent despite official assurances, after the European Commission revealed on Friday that insecticide-tainted eggs from Dutch farms had been found in 15 European Union states, Switzerland and Hong Kong.
European eggs, which make up about 20 per cent of Hong Kong’s supply, are usually popular among upper-middle class residents for their quality. But their appeal appears to have faded after the scandal, according to several egg sellers in the city.
One such seller at the Java Road Market and Cooked Food Centre in North Point, Chan Chin, told the Post that sales of eggs from Spain, France and Poland had dropped by half since the news broke. It led to a 10 per cent decline in overall sales.
He said that customers did not dare to buy European eggs now, even though only those from Dutch farms were found to be problematic. “I probably have to reduce the stock of all European eggs, and sell more American and Thailand eggs instead,” Chan said.