Eggs safe for use, cancer-risk claims misleading: FSSAI

Dismissing the recent claims of linking eggs to cancer risk, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Saturday said eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis. The food regulator termed the claims as “misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm”.

FSSAI officials emphasised that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.

The clarification comes in response to media reports and social media posts claiming detection of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ) — substances purportedly linked to cancer — in eggs sold in India.

The regulator explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0  µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites — but solely for regulatory enforcement purposes. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.

“Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk,” an FSSAI official said.

FSSAI said India’s regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. The European Union and the United States also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools.

Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, the authority noted.

 On public health concerns, FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that there is no established causal link between trace-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humans.

“No national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk,” the regulator reiterated.

 “Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect,” it said. FSSAI urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories, reiterating that eggs remain a safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.