Source: TNIE
Context:
India’s food safety regulator, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has started collecting egg samples of a popular brand to test its quality following uproar over a viral video that claimed that it contained traces of a banned, potentially cancer‑linked substance.
About Nitrofurans
- Nature: Synthetic antimicrobial agents used historically in veterinary medicine.
- Common Compounds: Nitrofurantoin, Furazolidone, Nitrofurazone, Furaltadone.
- Reason for Ban:
- Carcinogenic risk and potential toxicity in humans.
- Banned in India, the European Union, and several other countries.
- Health Implications:
- May cause neurological symptoms, gastrointestinal issues, and long-term cancer risk.
- Violates food safety standards and undermines consumer trust.
Human Health Implications
- Carcinogenic risk: Linked to cancer, prompting global bans.
- Toxicity: Excess exposure can cause neurological issues, gastrointestinal distress, and hypersensitivity.
- Food safety concern: Residues in eggs violate safety standards and erode consumer trust.
- Public health risk: Long-term low-level exposure may accumulate and pose health hazards.
