German supermarkets recall eggs over Dutch fipronil scandal

German supermarket chain Aldi is removing all eggs from the shelves across the country because of fipronil found in eggs from some Dutch poultry farms, the supermarket chain announced on Friday. According to Aldi, this is a "precautionary measure", ANP reports.

For the time being Aldi will only purchase eggs with laboratory proof that they contain no fipronil. As a result, the availability of eggs may be under pressure, but Aldi would rather ensure "clarity and transparency". Customers who bought eggs from Aldi over the past days, can return them without a receipt. 

German supermarket chain REWE already took a similar step. The company announced on Wednesday that it took all Dutch eggs off the shelves.

In the Netherlands Albert Heijn removed 14 types of eggs from the shelves, also as a precautionary measure.

Earlier this week Dutch food and consumer product safety authority NVWA warned that eggs from certain poultry companies contain the toxic insecticide fipronil. The watchdog warned against eating eggs with 27 specific company codes. The content of fipronil in these eggs are so high that they could endanger your health if consumed. 

Fipronil is used to fight ticks, fleas and lice. The World Health Organization considers it to be "moderately toxic". High quantities could cause liver, kidney and thyroid gland damage. The chickens on the affected poultry farms in the Netherlands became contaminated with fipronil through lice treatment in their stables. Barneveld company ChickFriend used an insecticide against blood lice in the stables that contained too much fipronil. 

All the contaminated eggs have now been removed from stores and companies that still had some destroyed them, according to ANP. The NVWA is investigating eggs from about 200 companies. The results of these investigations are expected this weekend.