German dioxin contamination eggs exported to UK
Contaminated animal feed was sent to poultry and pig farms in Germany Eggs from German farms where animal feed has been contaminated by dioxins have found their way into processed products destined for British food.
The EU executive said 14 tonnes of the liquid food had been exported to the UK but stressed there was a very low risk to human health.
The UK's Food Standards Agency agreed, saying the eggs would have become diluted with other products.
The FSA said it was trying to trace the shipment in the UK.
It said that following the distribution of affected eggs to the Netherlands they were mixed with non-contaminated eggs to make pasteurised liquid egg.
This product has been distributed to the UK.
'Product for consumption'The FSA said in a statement: "The mixing of the eggs will have diluted the levels of dioxins and they are not thought to be a risk to health.
"The FSA is currently liaising with the industry and will provide further updates as information becomes available."
Dioxins
- Dioxins are a group of chemicals commonly formed as by-products of industrial combustion and chemical processes, such as manufacturing of chemicals, pesticides, steel and paints, pulp and paper bleaching, exhaust emissions and incineration
- The main source of dioxin contamination of food for human consumption is contaminated animal feed
- Dioxins are absorbed by fatty tissue of cattle, poultry, pork and seafood. Foods high in animal fat, such as milk, meat, fish and eggs (and foods produced with them) are the main source of dioxins although all foods contains some
- Dioxins are found throughout the industrialised world, in air, water and soil, as well as in food
- Dioxins can cause problems for people if they are absorbed at high levels for long periods
- They have been shown in lab tests to cause a wide range of effects in certain animals, such as cancer and damage to the immune and reproductive systems, including low sperm count and learning difficulties
The alert began when it was discovered thousands of tonnes of animal feed contaminated by highly toxic dioxins had been sent to more than 1,000 poultry and pig farms in Germany.
Eggs from those farms were sent to the Netherlands for processing and then on to the UK where they are likely to have been used in the production of a variety of foodstuffs including mayonnaise and pastries.
European Commission health spokesman Frederic Vincent told a news conference how the problem had now reached the UK.
"Those eggs were then processed and then exported to the United Kingdom... as a 14-tonne consignment of pasteurised product for consumption," he said.
"Whether it went into mayonnaise, pastries, I don't know. So we will probably take a look at this with the UK authorities and see what was done with these eggs."
Farms closedThe problem has been traced to oils intended for bio-fuel becoming mixed with oil destined for animal feed.
The dioxin was discovered in late December but the extent of the problem was only revealed earlier this week when German officials said 3,000 tonnes of feed had been affected.
Germany has closed more than 4,700 farms, mostly in the Lower Saxony region in north-west Germany.
German officials will brief their EU counterparts next week and the incident could lead to new rules on animal feed.
Dioxins are toxins formed by industrial processes and waste burning.
They have been shown to contribute to higher cancer rates and to affect pregnant women.
The Food Standards Agency has received further information in relation to the ongoing investigation into the dioxin contamination of pig and poultry feed in Germany.
The Agency has been informed that following the distribution of affected eggs to the Netherlands, these eggs were mixed with other non-contaminated eggs to make pasteurised liquid egg. This pasteurised liquid egg has been distributed to the UK.
The mixing of the eggs will have diluted the levels of dioxins and they are not thought to be a risk to health.
The FSA is currently liaising with the industry and will provide further updates as information becomes available.
For more information read yesterday's news story at the link below.
The science behind the story
Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemicals that get into our food from the environment. They have no immediate effect on our health but can cause problems if they are absorbed into our bodies at high levels for long periods.
Foods high in animal fat, such as milk, meat, fish and eggs (and foods produced with them) are the main source of dioxins and PCBs although all foods contains at least low levels of these chemicals. The levels of dioxins and PCBs in any one individual's diet will vary depending on the amounts and types of foods they eat.
The risk to health comes from eating food with high levels of dioxins and PCBs over a long period. They have been shown to cause a wide range of effects in certain animals, including cancer and damage to the immune and reproductive systems, although it appears that people may be less sensitive
The science behind the story
Dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemicals that get into our food from the environment. They have no immediate effect on our health but can cause problems if they are absorbed into our bodies at high levels for long periods.
Foods high in animal fat, such as milk, meat, fish and eggs (and foods produced with them) are the main source of dioxins and PCBs although all foods contains at least low levels of these chemicals. The levels of dioxins and PCBs in any one individual's diet will vary depending on the amounts and types of foods they eat.
The risk to health comes from eating food with high levels of dioxins and PCBs over a long period. They have been shown to cause a wide range of effects in certain animals, including cancer and damage to the immune and reproductive systems, although it appears that people may be less sensitive
