Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials have lifted 161 samples of eggs sold in the markets here on Monday and Tuesday.
The action follows reports of ‘plastic eggs’ seized in West Bengal.
The samples will be sent for examination to a government certified laboratory.
“Egg samples were collected in the wake of rumours on artificial eggs detected in some parts of the country. While 94 samples were collected on Monday, 67 were lifted on Tuesday. The samples were taken from retailers and wholesale traders in the district,” said O.L.S. Vijay, designated officer of FSSAI in Coimbatore.
The lifted samples include various types of eggs available in the market including the popular White Leghorn and eggs of desi birds.
Officials here had received two complaints from consumers who alleged that artificial egg with plastic presence were being sold in market.
One complaint was from a resident of Saravanampatti in March, the other was from a resident of Masakalipalayam near Singanallur in April.
Officials said that fake alerts being spread on social media could have triggered such complaints.
Egg price was very much lower than the possible cost of producing artificial eggs which will require highly sophisticated technology.
Production of eggs in the State was much higher than the total requirement, they added.
