Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
GLOBAL EGG CRISIS
Contamination hits millions in places as far off as Hong Kong
THE toxic egg scandal which has engulfed British supermarkets has spread to 16 nations and Hong Kong.
An investigation has revealed 15 EU countries and Switzerland have been affected by millions of eggs contaminated with a hazardous pesticide.
Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose have cleared shelves of tens of thousands of readymade sandwiches and egg salads feared to be tainted with fipronil – a chemical normally used to kill ticks and fleas on dogs and cats.
The scare involves eggs from A Mum-of-two was saved by a fridge when a gas explosion flattened her home yesterday. Susan Shepherd, of Sunderland, was opening the fridge door when a blast “like a bomb” blew it on top of her, shielding her from the impact and debris. Firefighters freed the 40-year-old and she was stable in hospital last night. the Netherlands, with 700,000 imported here to be used in processed food. Eggs sold in cartons are not affected.
Food Standards Agency chairman Heather Hancock said: “The number of eggs involved is small in proportion to the number of eggs we eat and it is very unlikely that there is a risk to public health.
“Based on the available evidence there is no need for people to change the way they consume or cook eggs. However, fipronil is not legally allowed for use near food-producing animals and it shouldn’t be there.”