New Delhi, December 14, 2025: A recent controversy has shaken consumer confidence in premium egg brands after a laboratory test revealed traces of banned antibiotic residues in eggs, which are generally marketed as "100% antibiotic-free."
The debate centers on nitrofuran metabolites, their health implications, and regulatory standards that vary dramatically across countries.
On December 10, 2025, content creator Arpit Mangal's platform Trustified published laboratory test results claiming to have found residues of banned antibiotics in Eggoz Nutrition's eggs.
The test was conducted on samples purchased from Delhi and Gurugram stores, and detected 0.73 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) of AOZ.
AOZ is a metabolite of nitrofuran antibiotics.
Trustified is a platform specializing in laboratory testing of health products and supplements, analyzing them for label accuracy and the presence of heavy metals, chemicals, and prohibited substances.
Nitrofurans represent a class of veterinary drugs once commonly used in poultry farming, including furazolidone, furaltadone, nitrofurazone, and nifursol. These antibiotics were administered to prevent bacterial infections and maintain flock health for optimal egg production.
However, scientific evidence linking these compounds to carcinogenic and genotoxic effects led to their prohibition in animals raised for human consumption in many countries.
Carcinogenic effects mean causing cancer, while genotoxic effects mean damaging DNA of an individual.
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Manan Vora shared through his Instagram account that nitrofuran antibiotics served a practical purpose in commercial poultry operations. Farmers administered them to protect hens from bacterial infections and maintain stable health conditions, ultimately supporting consistent egg production.
Dr. Manan Vora shared the permissible limits as follows:
India (FSSAI): Permits up to 1 µg/kg of nitrofuran metabolites
European Union (EU): Permits up to 0.5 µg/kg for all major nitrofuran metabolites in food of animal origin.
USA: Enforce zero-tolerance policies for these substances
The tested Eggoz sample contained 0.73 µg/kg of AOZ.
Dr. Vora emphasized that the ideal level should be below 0.4 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg), questioning why India maintains a permissible limit when other nations have banned these substances entirely.
Abhishek Negi, founder of Eggoz Nutrition and IIT Kanpur alumnus, responded swiftly to the allegations. Within hours of the video going viral, Negi shared comprehensive laboratory reports on various social media platforms.
Fresh Lab Reports: Shared recent test results from NABL-accredited laboratories including Equinox and Shriram Institute, dated November 2025, showing zero detectable levels of banned substances, pesticides, or heavy metals
Environmental Contamination Theory: Attributed any trace AOZ to potential environmental contamination from feed, water, or soil rather than direct antibiotic administration
Zero-Tolerance Commitment: Despite FSSAI's 1 µg/kg limit, Eggoz maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy aligned with their "100% antibiotic-free" branding
Methodology Questions: Challenged Trustified's testing approach, noting their private lab's limit of quantification at 0.4 µg/kg might detect negligible environmental traces
Transparency Offer: Invited independent verification, offering free testing kits and farm visits to concerned consumers
Health experts emphasize several important considerations:
Eggs remain nutritious: the controversy involves specific suppliers and batches, not the entire food category, and eggs continue to be an excellent protein source with significant nutritional benefits.
Testing variability: a single test on one batch from one brand cannot characterize an entire industry or product category.
As Dr. Manan emphasized ,”This was just one test on one batch of one brand. It does not mean that eggs, in general, cause cancer.”
(Rh/VK)
