Testing of eggs has begun across the country to detect the presence of nitrofurans; more than 1200 samples have been collected.

Following instructions from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the Delhi Food Safety Department has launched a comprehensive sampling of eggs in the capital. This sampling is being conducted to detect the presence of the banned chemical nitrofurans in eggs available in the market.

According to preliminary data from the Food Safety Department, more than 1,200 egg samples have been collected from various locations so far. These include both wholesale and retail sources, including trays (30 eggs) and pallets (210 eggs). Delhi has an average daily demand of approximately 2 million eggs, totaling 73 million annually. Since egg production in Delhi is limited, most of the supply comes from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

A senior official from the Delhi Food Safety Department stated that the samples have been sent to accredited laboratories, and according to officials, chemical testing typically takes seven to 14 days. The final report will be released only after the tests are completed.

He added that in previous food safety checks, most poultry and egg samples did not show any prohibited residues above the standard limits. The quality was generally found to be within the safe range. In some cases, corrective notices were issued for minor labeling or storage deficiencies.

Sampling Locations:

- Supply chain centers near cold storage facilities in Shastri Nagar and Civil Lines.

- Retailers in major Delhi retail markets such as Karol Bagh, Rajouri Garden, and Vasant Vihar.

- Warehouses of home-delivery platform vendors.