A survey of 20 types of eggs sold in stores showed that one type purchased from a supermarket contained florfenicol, which can have negative effects on the liver and kidneys if consumed in large quantities, the Consumers’ Foundation said yesterday.
To cater to the high demand for eggs, many chicken farms choose to keep their hens in battery cages to save space, the foundation said, adding that when large numbers of hens are kept in a small space, the possibility of cross infections increases.
As such, farmers sometimes choose to add drugs to chickenfeed to prevent diseases and in some cases eggs from these hens become contaminated with drug residues, the foundation said.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu, Taipei Times
In addition to drugs residues, the foundation said microbial egg contamination — such as salmonella infection — is another problem that needs to be examined, so its survey also tested the eggs for salmonella and selenium levels as well as several types of drug residues.
The results showed that one type of eggs contained florfenicol, a type of antibiotic used for the treatment of bovine respiratory disease, which may harm humans and is banned under the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生管理法).
According to the act, the company responsible should inform consumers and have the contaminated products recalled and destroyed, the foundation said.
If they fail to do so, they may face a fine between NT$60,000 (US$2,000) and NT$6 million based on the damages caused, the foundation said, adding that the Department of Health should look into the case.
Results for salmonella infections and other drug residues were all found to be within regulated standards, it said.
The foundation said that although salmonella infection was not discovered in the sampled eggs, consumers should still be aware that egg shells can become contaminated during storage.
Consumers should be careful when choosing eggs and check whether there are cracks in the shell and avoid eating the egg if the yolk contains parts of the chicken, it said, adding that fresh eggs are often heavier and have a thicker shell.
Alain Robert, known as the "French Spider-Man," praised Alex Honnold as exceptionally well-prepared after the US climber completed a free solo ascent of Taipei 101 yesterday. Robert said Honnold's ascent of the 508m-tall skyscraper in just more than one-and-a-half hours without using safety ropes or equipment was a remarkable achievement. "This is my life," he said in an interview conducted in French, adding that he liked the feeling of being "on the edge of danger." The 63-year-old Frenchman climbed Taipei 101 using ropes in December 2004, taking about four hours to reach the top. On a one-to-10 scale of difficulty, Robert said Taipei 101
Nipah virus infection is to be officially listed as a category 5 notifiable infectious disease in Taiwan in March, while clinical treatment guidelines are being formulated, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. With Nipah infections being reported in other countries and considering its relatively high fatality rate, the centers on Jan. 16 announced that it would be listed as a notifiable infectious disease to bolster the nation’s systematic early warning system and increase public awareness, the CDC said. Bangladesh reported four fatal cases last year in separate districts, with three linked to raw date palm sap consumption, CDC Epidemic Intelligence
Taiwanese and US defense groups are collaborating to introduce deployable, semi-autonomous manufacturing systems for drones and components in a boost to the nation’s supply chain resilience. Taiwan’s G-Tech Optroelectronics Corp subsidiary GTOC and the US’ Aerkomm Inc on Friday announced an agreement with fellow US-based Firestorm Lab to adopt the latter’s xCell, a technology featuring 3D printers fitted in 6.1m container units. The systems enable aerial platforms and parts to be produced in high volumes from dispersed nodes capable of rapid redeployment, to minimize the risk of enemy strikes and to meet field requirements, they said. Firestorm chief technology officer Ian Muceus said
MORE FALL: An investigation into one of Xi’s key cronies, part of a broader ‘anti-corruption’ drive, indicates that he might have a deep distrust in the military, an expert said China’s latest military purge underscores systemic risks in its shift from collective leadership to sole rule under Chinese President Xi Jinping (習近平), and could disrupt its chain of command and military capabilities, a national security official said yesterday. If decisionmaking within the Chinese Communist Party has become “irrational” under one-man rule, the Taiwan Strait and the regional situation must be approached with extreme caution, given unforeseen risks, they added. The anonymous official made the remarks as China’s Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia (張又俠) and Joint Staff Department Chief of Staff Liu Zhenli (劉振立) were reportedly being investigated for suspected “serious
RSS