Quick reads
- A viral blind-lab test posted online claimed a nitrofuran metabolite (AOZ) was detected in Eggoz eggs.
- Eggoz says the reported residue is below India’s FSSAI tolerance and denies using antibiotics.
- Doctors and public-health experts say eggs themselves don’t cause cancer; contamination is a separate issue.
- India’s permissible limit for AOZ (a nitrofuran metabolite) is 1 µg/kg; the viral test cited a value below that threshold.
- Major health bodies say evidence linking ordinary egg consumption to cancer is weak and inconsistent.
Where it happened
The controversy erupted online after a consumer-awareness channel published a blind lab test result alleging AOZ (a nitrofuran metabolite) in Eggoz eggs. Coverage and debate spread across social media, Indian lifestyle outlets and national news platforms. Eggoz responded publicly from India, and the story prompted wider discussion about testing standards and food safety rules.
How it happened
A YouTube/short-video channel published a test claiming AOZ at about 0.7–0.74 µg/kg in an Eggoz sample. That claim went viral. Eggoz issued a statement saying the brand does not use antibiotics and that the reported level, according to the company and observers, is below India’s allowed extraneous maximum residue limit (EMRL). Food-safety documents and experts note that some countries follow near-zero tolerance for nitrofurans, while India’s notified EMRL for certain nitrofuran residues can be up to 1 µg/kg. Investigations and independent laboratory confirmations have not been reported publicly by regulators at the time of writing.
The Story
A recent online lab test alleging the presence of an AOZ residue in Eggoz eggs sparked consumer alarm and wide social-media sharing. Eggoz publicly said the trace level cited is below India’s regulatory limit and reiterated that it does not use antibiotics. Medical experts who spoke to the press emphasise two separate facts: (1) eggs are nutritionally valuable and are not, by themselves, proven to cause cancer; and (2) contamination or illegal drug use in food animals is a distinct food-safety problem that must be investigated by regulators.
What experts and regulators say
- Medical commentators told outlets that current scientific evidence does not show ordinary egg consumption causes cancer; results across studies are mixed and inconclusive. Major health pages advise against panic and call for measured, evidence-based responses.
- Food-safety rules matter: India’s FSSAI has set EMRLs for certain prohibited veterinary drugs; some residues that are banned in other countries may have different thresholds here. That legal context explains why a measured laboratory value may alarm consumers even if it does not violate Indian rules. Experts say regulators should verify any test and publish findings.
Don’t equate a viral test with a regulatory finding. If you’re concerned, stop using that batch, follow updates from FSSAI or the brand, and prefer eggs from transparent, certified sources. Journalists and consumers should await official lab confirmations before drawing health conclusions.
