 "Can eggs cause cancer? Viral claim by Indian doctor is sparking concern")
In the last few days, social media has been buzzing with a worrying claim: that eggs, especially those sold by the brand Eggoz, may contain banned chemicals that could cause cancer.
Videos, forwards and screenshots have spread quickly, leaving many people confused about whether their daily eggs are actually safe to eat.
It’s a serious claim, and understandably, it has made a lot of people anxious. So before we jump to conclusions or cut eggs out of our meals, it’s important to look at what the video actually claims, what scientists know, and how the brand has responded.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s going on.
The viral claim
Eggoz has always positioned itself as a premium, antibiotic-free brand, but tests conducted by an independent YouTube channel, Trustified, allegedly detected banned substances in the eggs.
Mumbai-based orthopaedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr Manan Vora, addressed the viral claim head-on.
“‘Eggs can cause cancer’ – you will see this all over your timeline today. Let me tell you what the truth is. There is a brand called Ego Nutrition GI. I also eat these eggs; so I am shocked as well. An independent YouTube channel called Trustified found certain banned substances inside this, which is shocking. In the report, two banned substances, nitrofuran and nitroimidazole, were found when these eggs were tested. Now, why are they banned because they are known to be genotoxic? It’s they can alter your DNA and potentially even cause cancer,” he said.
Dr Vora questioned how a company exposed for using illegal chemicals continues to operate in India, and also raised concerns about the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
He pointed out that while other countries follow an absolute zero-tolerance approach to such substances, India reportedly allows a small tolerance level.
“Now you will ask, if this is banned, why did the brand use these drugs? Because they have been used in the hens to actually keep them away from bacteria, away from infection and keep them more and more stable so that they can produce more and more eggs. This is illegal in the poultry business. And this brand, which claims not to do any of this, has now been exposed to test nitrofuran metabolite Aoz, which was found in the report to be around 0.7. It should have ideally been even below 0.4. Other countries have an absolute zero tolerance for these substances, and they should not be allowed at all," he said.
Still, he urged people not to panic or cut eggs out of their diet. As he clarified, “Eggs overall are not a scam. The concern is about certain suppliers, not the food itself.”
**
What does science say about eggs & cancer?**
Researchers have debated this for years, but the evidence so far is not definitive.
A major meta-analysis in 2022 suggested that very high egg consumption might be linked to a slight increase in cancer mortality, but it found no strong connection to cardiovascular disease or overall mortality.
In short, the science doesn’t back the claim that eggs themselves cause cancer.
Eggoz responds to controversy
On 9 December, Eggoz finally responded to the controversy. The company insisted that its eggs are safe and compliant with Indian regulations, which allow for minimal residue levels due to unavoidable environmental factors such as contaminated groundwater.
“We are aware of a video that is currently being shared and understand that it may have raised some questions and concerns. We want to reassure our consumers that our eggs are safe for consumption and comply with the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).”
“We take every care to maintain quality and safety at our farms and across the entire value chain which includes ensuring zero anti-biotic usage. Our process also includes sourcing best quality feed, to storage, transport and delivery, which is in line with established food safety practices”
“As an added measure to provide further reassurance to our consumers and other stakeholders, we have initiated additional testing through an independent NABL-accredited laboratory. We remain committed to transparency, safety, and earning the trust of everyone who chooses our products,” the company said.
Following the uproar, Eggoz has also put its lab test reports online for public viewing.
With input from agencies
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