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.
The first global hotel Keys Selection by the Michelin Guide includes four hotels in Taiwan, Michelin announced yesterday. All four received the “Michelin One Key,” indicating guests are to experience a “very special stay” at any of the locations as the establishments are “a true gem with personality. Service always goes the extra mile, and the hotel provides much more than others in its price range.” Of the four hotels, three are located in Taipei and one in Taichung. In Taipei, the One Key accolades were awarded to the Capella Taipei, Kimpton Da An Taipei and Mandarin Oriental Taipei. Capella Taipei was described by
The Taichung District Court yesterday confirmed its final ruling that the marriage between teenage heir Lai (賴) and a man surnamed Hsia (夏) was legally invalid, preventing Hsia from inheriting Lai’s NT$500 million (US$16.37 million) estate. The court confirmed that Hsia chose not to appeal the civil judgement after the court handed down its ruling in June, making the decision final. In the June ruling, the court said that Lai, 18, and Hsia, 26, showed “no mutual admiration before the marriage” and that their interactions were “distant and unfamiliar.” The judge concluded that the couple lacked the “true intention of
EVA Airways today confirmed the death of a flight attendant on Saturday upon their return to Taiwan and said an internal investigation has been launched, as criticism mounted over a social media post accusing the airline of failing to offer sufficient employee protections. According to the post, the flight attendant complained of feeling sick on board a flight, but was unable to take sick leave or access medical care. The crew member allegedly did not receive assistance from the chief purser, who failed to heed their requests for medical attention or call an ambulance once the flight landed, the post said. As sick
INDUSTRY: Beijing’s latest export measures go beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related tech, an academic said Taiwanese industries could face significant disruption from China’s newly tightened export controls on rare earth elements, as much of Taiwan’s supply indirectly depends on Chinese materials processed in Japan, a local expert said yesterday. Kristy Hsu (徐遵慈), director of the Taiwan ASEAN Studies Center at the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research, said that China’s latest export measures go far beyond targeting the US and would likely affect any country that uses Chinese rare earths or related technologies. With Japan and Southeast Asian countries among those expected to be hit, Taiwan could feel the impact through its reliance on Japanese-made semi-finished products and