Every Indian consumes 6-7 kg of eggs every year. Recently, many viral videos have claimed that eggs are being made from plastic or are heavily coated with chemicals. But FSSAI has clearly said that making plastic eggs is impossible. It is just a myth.
Although plastic eggs do not exist, eggs sold in the market could be artificial or fake. Let’s have a reality check on fake eggs.
What Are ‘Fake Eggs’?
NECC (National Eggs Coordination Committee) defines fake eggs or artificial eggs as:
- Non-natural products that mimic a real egg.
- Eggs made with chemical treatment have unnatural features, such as overly soft or hard shells.
- Eggs having cracked appearances with grey lines, or bright orange, hardened yolks.
Such products are unsafe to eat and may cause health issues. You must know how to spot eggs that look abnormal or unsafe.
Side Effects of Eating Fake Eggs
Eating eggs that are chemically altered or contaminated may lead to:
- Digestion issues: Chemical-based eggs do not get digested easily, which may cause nausea, vomiting, and indigestion.
- Toxic poisoning: Fake eggs consist of formaldehyde, plasticisers, or petroleum-based compounds. These harmful compounds get mixed with the blood and damage internal organs such as the kidneys and liver.
- Deficiency of Nutrition: Fake eggs give no protein. So, if consumed regularly, it can cause malnutrition.
Even if an egg is not plastic, poor storage or spoilage can also be harmful.
How to Identify Fake Eggs
Here are simple tests recommended by FSSAI that you can do at home:
- Shell Test: Real eggs have a slightly rough texture. Fake ones have an extremely glossy and smooth texture.
So next time, when you see glossy eggs, beware that they are not premium quality but fake. - Shake Test: Shake the egg gently and place it close to your ear. Real eggs do not make a sound. But if eggs are not fresh or fake, they create a sloshing sound.
- Shell Integrity: The shells of real eggs are fragile and are easily broken if cracked, which exposes a thin inner membrane. The shell of a fake egg is generally harder and more difficult to crack. It will not shatter but break into larger plastic-like pieces.
How to Stay Safe
- Always check eggs’ authenticity with the tests mentioned above.
- Buy eggs from trusted suppliers displaying FSSAI license symbols, manufacturing dates, and batch numbers; avoid loose eggs from unregulated markets or unhygienic stalls.
- Store eggs properly at home. Avoid prolonged exposure to heat or sunlight, as it reduces the shelf life of eggs.
Final Thoughts
The idea of plastic eggs may be a myth, but the risk of fake, chemically treated, or poorly stored eggs is very real. While FSSAI has clarified that eggs cannot be made from plastic, eggs with unnatural appearance, chemical coatings, or improper handling can still pose serious health risks. Fake egg protein may expose the body to harmful substances, leading to digestive problems, toxicity, and nutritional deficiencies.
- Share this with those who are eating eggs for protein. They must read it before they crack an egg.
