Again dioxin in eggs from Lower Saxony

Authorities warn of dioxin in free-range eggs from Lower Saxony

08/03/2012

Once again, elevated levels of PCB and dioxin were found in the free-range eggs of a Niedersächsische laying hen farm. According to the Lower Saxony Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Consumer Protection and Regional Development, self-inspections of a collection center for eggs in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) have revealed that the limit value has been exceeded..

The contaminated eggs are from „from a conventional Freilandhof in the East Frisian district of Aurich“, so the announcement of the Ministry of Agriculture in Hanover on Thursday. The result showed a maximum exceedance of the sum value of dioxin and dioxin-like PCBs of 8.16 picograms per gram of egg fat; the permissible limit is five picograms per gram of egg fat. The affected population with just under 1,000 hens in free range was officially closed on Wednesday, and distribution via the collection center in NRW was stopped. Currently „further distribution channels of eggs already on the market“, so the message of the authorities. However, there is no immediate danger to consumers.

Dioxin contamination of free-range eggs
Again and again, increased levels of dioxins and PCBs in free-range eggs have been reported in recent months. This is also the result of improved self-monitoring and reporting after the dioxin scandal of contaminated feed in 2011. In the outdoor eggs, however, is not the feed, but the environment or the soil on which the chickens live, often cause the contamination. This was true at least for the recent incidents in a laying hen farm of the district Oldenburg, three farms of the district of Aurich and a farm from the North Rhine-Westphalian district Borken. Here, for example, the covering on the run-off surfaces or the insulating material of the stables was the source of the PCB and dioxin.

Sales channels of dioxin eggs are being reviewed
According to information from the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture, investigations into the cause of entry are currently underway with the current dioxin detection in the free-range eggs from Aurich. All eggs coded 1 - DE - 0357412 were recalled. „By publishing the stamp number on the affected eggs, it is possible to identify eggs already in the consumer's diet and to refrain from consuming them“, so the message of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture. However, it is still unclear to which traders the eggs were passed on and how many of them may have landed at the end customer. The distribution channels of free-range eggs already on the market are being tested.

Enrichment of environmental toxins in the organism
Although the observed exceedance of the dioxin / PCB sum value in the free-range eggs is not an immediate health threat, over time PCBs and dioxin accumulate as environmental toxins in the human organism, since they can hardly be degraded. In the long term, therefore, if the intake of PCBs or dioxins is too high, there are serious health problems, including damage to fertility and an increased risk of miscarriages and malformations in the offspring. The pollutants are also suspected to promote cancer. (Fp)

Also read about dioxin:
Dioxin and PCB discovered in organic eggs
Dioxin eggs: Procuratorate identified
Health risk from dioxin eggs

Picture credits: Gerd Altmann / myself