FDA Issues Urgent Recall of Contaminated Eggs in Taiwan

More than 150,000 eggs contaminated with high levels of pesticide residue have entered the market in Taiwan, prompting an urgent recall from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The affected eggs, identified by the traceability code I47045, were distributed across ten administrative regions, including Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Chiayi City.

The FDA announced the recall on March 10, 2024, after a routine inspection revealed 0.03 parts per million (ppm) of fipronil sulfone in a batch from a local farm, exceeding the permissible limit of 0.01 ppm. Following this discovery, 626 cartons of eggs were traced and recalled, but unfortunately, 543 cartons had already been sold to consumers, according to FDA Central Center Director-General Lin Hsu-yang.

Subsequent tests conducted on March 12 and March 13 revealed further contamination, leading the Changhua County Public Health Bureau to alert additional regions where eggs with the same lot number had been distributed. The FDA has advised consumers to refrain from purchasing or consuming these eggs and to return any purchased products to retailers or discard them if already acquired.

While the immediate health risks from fipronil sulfone may not be severe, excessive exposure could lead to symptoms such as cramps, headaches, dizziness, stomach pain, and nausea. Yang Chen-chang, director of occupational medicine and clinical toxicology at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, noted that while acute poisoning is rare, long-term accumulation of the pesticide could result in more serious health issues, including damage to the liver, kidneys, or thyroid gland.

The FDA is collaborating with agricultural agencies to investigate the origins of the contamination. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang indicated that initial findings suggest environmental pollution as the cause, ruling out tainted feed or direct pesticide application on the farm.

Taiwan’s standards for fipronil sulfone residues are stricter than those in Japan, South Korea, and the United States. The incident marks the first food safety case in Taiwan managed using traceability codes, which allow for precise recalls and provide valuable information to consumers and businesses about product quality.

In response to the contamination, the Changhua County Department of Agriculture has recommended that consumers purchase eggs from the county’s “Fresh Select” suppliers, which do not include the implicated farm. Additionally, the Hsinchu County Public Health Bureau and the Taichung City Government have issued recall orders for the affected eggs.

The Kaohsiung Department of Health has also reported that a local supermarket faces fines ranging from NT$60,000 to NT$200 million (approximately USD 1,935 to USD 6.45 million) for failing to inform customers of the egg contamination issue, as mandated under the Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation.

Consumers are urged to remain vigilant and informed as health authorities work to ensure food safety in the wake of this incident.