U.K. Eggs contain Poison

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1m eggs a day 'contain poison'

by SEAN POULTER, Daily Mail

ore than a million eggs eaten daily could be contaminated with a toxic drug,

official figures show today.

Experts found traces of lasalocid in 4.8 per cent of eggs, which would equate to

an astonishing 473million consumed in Britain last year.

It is thought that 40million will have contained levels six times higher than

recommended limits.

The discovery, by the Government's Veterinary Residues Committee, has

infuriated egg producers who last night blamed poor working practices at the

feed companies which supply them.

Lasalocid, which is meant to stamp out a parasitic stomach illness, is routinely

included in feed given to chickens reared for the table on factory farms.

The birds are supposed to be taken off the medicated feed at least nine days

before slaughter to allow residues to leave their system.

This safety measure does not apply to egg-laying battery hens, as they are not

meant to be given the medicated feed in the first place. However, it appears

that the drug is also getting to them, either through accident or lack of care.

Organic farming lobby group The Soil Association said the discovery is part of a

widespread problem in factory farming which relies on chemicals to keep animals

healthy.

It said the drug is toxic and carries a health risk, having been shown to have

potent effects on animals at low levels.

Rabbits' hearts contract when exposed to the drug, a discovery which prompted an

experiment in 1974 using human heart muscle. Rapid contractions were observed

and were still evident an hour after the drug had been given.

The Association is calling on the European Union to ban use of the drug on all

chickens while safety doubts remain.

Association policy adviser Richard Young said: 'The problem is that no one knows

when they are eating food contaminated with drug residues and no one checks to

see what effect they have on us.

'The Government should actively promote less intensive methods, such as organic

farming, and take the side of consumers - not industry - and get the problem

drugs banned.'

The British Egg Industry Council said it was unhappy with the contamination but

it believed the figures may make the situation appear worse than it is.

Spokesman Amanda Cryer said the sampling was targeted at egg suppliers and farms

where it was thought there might be a problem.

She added: 'Our members are very fed up with this. Lasalocid is not used in

laying hens, but it appears trace amounts can get into their feed.

'We are pressing feed manufacturers to make sure they do something about this

and better segregate the feed.'

Miss Cryer said the lasalocid levels were so low people would have to eat large

numbers of eggs before there was a health risk.

 

 

 

 

 

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