Q&A

What is fipronil?

The insecticide is most often found in flea powder used on pets. It is also used to kill and control ants, wasps, cockroaches, parasitic mites and some crop pests.

How did it get in to eggs?

Around 180 farmers in Holland had a problem with red mite infestation of chickens. A Belgian company supplied a fipronil treatment that is illegal to use on foodproducing livestock.

How dangerous is fipronil?

Eating eggs contaminated with it can lead to liver, kidney and thyroid damage, but it would require very high consumption. German experts reckon a young child could eat 1.7 eggs a day without danger.

When was the problem discovered?

According to the Belgian government, the Dutch identified egg contamination in November 016. Belgian watchdogs themselves found a problem this June.

Why was there a delay in issuing a food recall?

This is not clear. In theory an immediate warning should be issued to all countries through the EU’s rapid alert system. The authorities in the Netherlands and Belgium have failed to explain why this did not happen this time.

What foods are affected?

Millions of fresh hens’ eggs produced in the Netherlands have been removed from supermarkets across Europe. By contrast, Britain is virtually self-sufficient in fresh eggs and was less affected. The cheap imported eggs have however been used in processed foods such as ready meal salads and egg mayonnaise sandwich fillings. Hence yesterday’s alert.