Contaminated eggs from Netherlands sent to UK

MORE than 20,000 eggs contaminated with a toxic insecticide reached the UK earlier this year, it has been revealed.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) says the eggs contained a chemical called Fipronil which was used “inappropriately” in cleaning products on chicken farms in the Netherlands.

Tests had shown the substance, which can harm kidneys, liver and thyroid glands, was found in around 21,000 eggs.

The FSA says it is urgently investigating the distribution of these products in the UK.

But it says the risk to the public is “very low” and understands affected products have been withdrawn from supermarket shelves.

The revelations come after the supermarket chain Aldi withdrew all eggs from sale in its stores in Germany last week.

A spokesman for the FSA said: “We are working closely with the businesses that have received eggs from affected farms.

“Our risk assessment, based on all the information available, indicates that as part of a normal healthy diet this low level of potential exposure is unlikely to be a risk to public health and there is no need for consumers to be concerned.

“Our advice is that there is no need for people to change the way they consume or cook eggs or products containing eggs.”

The UK Government says it has already taken action to prevent any risk to UK consumers by adding Fipronil to its robust surveillance programme in UK farms.

The FSA says there is “no evidence” that eggs laid in the UK are contaminated or that Fipronil has been used inappropriately in the UK.

An estimated 85% of the eggs the public consumes in the UK are laid here.