FSSAI says eggs are safe for consumption, claims of cancer risks misleading
The Authority has also urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories.
| Photo Credit:
Chris J. Ratcliffe
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that claims linking eggs to cancer risks are “misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm”, officials said.
The Authority has also urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories.
Responding to some recent reports and social media posts which made some allegations regarding safety of eggs, FSSAI officials pointed out that Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites “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 official noted.
Use of nitrofurans
Officials clarified that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of production of poultry and eggs under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
FSSAI also emphasised that India’s regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, officials added.
Citing scientific evidence, officials indicated 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 Authority emphasised.
Published on December 20, 2025
