Taipei: The recent detection of excessive pesticide residues in eggs has been attributed to the cramped conditions in which many laying hens are housed in Taiwan, according to a livestock expert. The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration recently issued an emergency recall of over 150,000 eggs from a Changhua farm due to harmful levels of the pesticide fipronil-sulfone.

According to Focus Taiwan, Researcher Wang Chien-kai, an assistant professor of animal sciences and head of the Livestock Research Institute at National Chung Hsing University, indicated that the contamination issue is likely connected to the traditional battery cages used for roughly 90 percent of egg-laying hens in Taiwan. These cages, about the size of an A4 sheet of paper, typically contain 2-4 hens, as reported by the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan.

Wang explained that in such overcrowded conditions, external parasites can easily breed and spread, necessitating the use of large quantities of pesticides. In contrast, hens in less crowded environments can take dust baths to control parasites, thereby reducing the need for pesticides. Wang suggested that to produce safer and more environmentally friendly eggs, consumers might need to accept higher prices, which would help facilitate necessary industry upgrades.

Additionally, Health Minister Shih Chung-liang mentioned over the weekend that regulators plan to increase random pesticide sampling in eggs, prioritizing those stamped with a “C” for cage eggs based on their risk level.

According to a recent article on the Environmental Information Center (EIC) website, Taiwan’s eggs are marked with a two-line traceability code. The top line identifies a specific farm or egg washing facility, while the second line includes the packaging date and an English letter that denotes the type of egg, such as “C” for cage eggs or “E” for enriched cage eggs. Labels for cage-free eggs include “O” for organic, “F” for free range, or “B” for barn raised, each with distinct regulatory definitions.

Taiwan currently has three organizations offering five types of humane certification for eggs. The EIC reported that the logos of these certifications are typically displayed on egg packaging. Of these certifications, the ones offered by the Taiwan Society of Agricultural Standards and the National Animal Industry Foundation are less strict, as they allow certification for eggs from enriched cages. In contrast, the certifications from the Environment and Animal Society of Taiwan are considered more stringent as they do not certify eggs from enriched cages.