Warning of PCB in organic eggs from NRW

PCB found in organic eggs from the district of Soest

21/08/2012

Again, consumer protection and health authorities warn against the consumption of organic eggs. According to the North Rhine-Westphalian consumer protection ministry, the eggs could be contaminated with the dioxin-like pollutant PCB. The eggs from NRW are currently being recalled from the market.

The Ministry of Consumer Protection in North Rhine-Westphalia warns against the consumption of eggs with the indicator „0-EN-0509501“. The eggs may be overly contaminated with dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, a relatively small farm with just 500 laying hens from the region of Soest was affected. In addition, according to the authorities, not all eggs are pollutant-contaminated. As a precaution, the Consumer and Agriculture Ministry has all „Batches recalled from the trade“, as it says in a recent communication. Consumers are required to return the eggs to the retailer for repayment of the purchase price or to dispose of them. The stamp number is on each egg.

Scheduled investigation identified PCB limit violations
During routine checks, PCB limits were noted in some eggs. However, not all eggs with the same stamp number are affected, the ministry points out. „Some of the eggs are unloaded, but with the same stamp number“, said Ministry spokesman Stephan Malessa. But because it is indistinguishable from the outside, which eggs are loaded and which are not contaminated, all eggs with the same number would have to be recalled until the allocation of new digits.

In routine controls of Soest County, PCB levels above the legal limit in the laboratory had been noted in individual samples. Currently the ministry is going „Do not assume that consumers run the risk of health, because the eggs are usually not consumed in excess“.

Long-term consequences of contaminated food
In principle, however, eggs with high PCB contamination can lead to health problems. PCB pollutants are long-lasting compounds that accumulate sustainably in the fatty tissue and are degraded only very slowly. Over time, the risk of serious illness increases. Long-term consequences include disorders of the immune and nervous systems, including cancers. According to the speaker, it is therefore the aim of the Ministry of Consumer Protection, PCB substances „as far as possible to stay out of the food chain.“

Manufacturer despite stamp number unknown
Based on the stamp numbers, consumers are still not able to locate the manufacturer. When entering the numbers on the eggs appears on the Internet: „Does not participate in the KAT system.“ The ministry spokesman said: „The companies are not obliged to. You just have to print the number.“ Consumers can only tell by the number, whether the eggs, for example „Bio“ are and from which manufacturer country they come. The number zero stands for, for example „Bio“ and the „D“ for Germany. (Sb)

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Picture: Siepmann H.