The Netherlands - Toxic eggs: Albert Heijn removes 14 types of eggs from its shelves as scandal spreads

The Netherlands’ biggest supermarket group Albert Heijn said on Thursday it is removing 14 different types of eggs from its shelves, as the uncertainty over pesticide contamination continues.

The measure is a precautionary one, the company said. Among the eggs to be removed are the company’s own brand free-range and organic eggs. It had already removed some eggs earlier this week, website Nu.nl reported. Jumbo, the second biggest Dutch supermarket group has also removed some types of eggs from its stores,

Nu.nl reported, as has German supermarket group REWE. ‘We want to give our clients total transparency,’ the German company said in a statement. Farmers say they are extremely unhappy at the supermarkets’ decision and describe it as an over-reaction.

The government said earlier on Thursday that farmers themselves will have to pick up the bill for the product recall following the discovery of the contamination with a banned pesticide.

The Dutch food and product safety board has come under fire from experts, MPs and farmers for the way it is handling the ongoing contaminated egg scandal.

The NVWA first said there was no danger to human health and then issued a warning about certain batches of eggs, only for its deputy director to suggest a day later consumers should avoid eggs altogether until tests for a banned pesticide have been completed.

Note EU-Digest:  Hopefully the Dutch Government will not be swayed by lobbyists from Chemical companies to put their head in the sand and clean-up the apparently poorly functioning government food inspection services (NVWA). It is also strange no one is questioning who the makers of the pesticide are,  causing this calamity and why it is allowed by local EU Governments to being used in the food chain? Unfortunately this is probably just the top of the iceberg, when it comes to the use of pesticides in the European food chain.

Read more: Albert Heijn removes 14 types of eggs from its shelves as scandal spreads - DutchNews.nl

Germany - Food Safety: : Aldi stops selling eggs in Germany over food safety scare

Discount supermarket chain Aldi is withdrawing all eggs from sale at its more than 4,000 stores in Germany as a precaution, it said on Friday, as a scare over the possible contamination of eggs with insecticide spreads.

Traces of insecticide fipronil were found in eggs in Belgium and the Netherlands last month, which has led to the temporary shut-down of some poultry farms and to supermarkets halting the sale of Dutch eggs. 

Investigators suspect the chemical may have gotten into eggs through contaminated detergent against mites that is used to clean barns. 

The detergent was also supplied to farms in the northern German state of Lower Saxony, from where eggs are distributed across the country, Germany's food and agriculture ministry has said.

Aldi is the first major retailer to take all eggs, regardless of origin, off its shelves.

Read more: Aldi stops selling eggs in Germany over food safety scare

Europe: Easter shoppers hit by egg-streme price hikes

Europe is in the grip of the usual Easter craze as eggs become the focus of everyone’s attention. However this year’s egg fever is like no other before. Eggs – be they normal or chocolate – have seen an unprecedented rise in price.

­There’s nothing unusual in egg prices soaring at Easter. However, this year eggs are almost 80% (76.5) more expensive than last season, according to the Wall Street Journal. Supply is failing to meet demand as many producers have simply halted their egg production. It all has to do with new European Union rules requiring larger cages for battery hens. European Union member states were given until the beginning of this year to switch from using small cages to new ones with more space, bedding and perches. As a result, there are fewer eggs on the market. While some producers are in the middle of upgrading their facilities, others have simply chosen to leave the business rather than pay for the luxurious comfort of their hens.

Eastern European countries have suffered the most. Many customers in poorer economies think the regulation has taken fighting for the animal rights a tad far. There are those who now go across borders to build up their stocks of eggs for Easter – for example in Poland the price is 40% less than in neighboring countries. So going abroad to buy several hundred eggs for a family is nothing out of the ordinary these days.

However, egg-hunting across borders doesn’t solve the problem of chocolate eggs, which are another Easter essential. These too have become more expensive almost everywhere. For example, in Great Britain chocolate treats have become almost 200% more expensive than last year, according to the local newspaper Daily Mail.

For more: Easter shoppers hit by egg-streme price hikes — RT

Europe faces Easter egg quandary

This the season to paint Easter eggs in Europe. Now children, listen: Handle with care, they break easily – and this year there are not too many about so they are very expensive.

Demand for eggs traditionally reaches its peak around the Easter holiday. This year, the egg industry has been hit by the European Union’s new requirements for bigger, more animal-friendly cages for hens. The changes it brings have affected production and, combined with high feed cost, boosted consumer prices.

Ahead of Easter Sunday, on April 8 or 15 depending on the religious denomination, it makes for a costly tradition on a continent where millions have grown up painting or dyeing eggs as children and are now facing economic crisis.

For more: Europe faces Easter egg quandary | Long Island Press