There is often too much PFAS in eggs that lay chickens of small hobby farmers. This was shown on Tuesday from RIVM research. That was quite a shock for myself, a large user of eggs. Every day I consume four of the hobby farmer. Because I like it, but also because of the healthy proteins that contain the eggs. Do I have to worry with others? Or can I take the story, just like my egg, with a grain of salt?
Polly Boon participated in the investigation and says that there is no reason to panic. “If you have been eating eggs from a hobby farmer for a long time, it does not necessarily mean that something is going on with you.” She does say that it is wise to consider whether you still want to eat the eggs.
PFAS is a collective name for thousands of chemicals that can affect the immune system. If you have a lot of PFAS in your body, your immune system will get worse and the risk of cancer and cholesterol in the blood increases. “That is why we strongly recommend eating eggs from our own garden, vegetable gardens, animal meadows and care farms anymore.” A worrying message, especially now that Easter is almost at the door.
No cake and egg
Why the eggs of hobbyists are massively infected, the RIVM is not yet completely clear: “We are still investigating that, but it seems that the concentration of PFAS is higher in the eggs because hobby chickens eats earthworms. The worms take Pfas out of the ground. If the chicken has received the delicacy, it separates the PFAS again.”
Yet it remains to be guessed at the cause. For example, it could also be due to other food or the extent to which the soil has been tamped. According to RIVM, it is quite possible that all different things contribute to the high PFAS values.
With the eggs in the supermarket, nothing seems to be wrong. “They often come from large poultry farms that are checked in detail. Also those chickens will probably get much fewer earthworms.”
What to do if you have been eating hobby eggs for a long time?
- Check whether the eggs of the hobby farmer have a date. If so, the eggs are safe and tested.
- You can ask the hobby farmer if the eggs can be tested for harmful substances such as PFAS, a normal value is four.
- Listen to your body: If you have complaints, contact your doctor.
- For questions about your health and PFAS you can contact your regional GGD.
Half of the cases unsuitable
For the investigation, RIVM has examined eggs at sixty locations throughout the Netherlands. In half of those places an adult already receives unhealthy amounts of PFAS when they eat one egg per week. Small children and adults with a lower weight are much faster at that limit.
Getting little Pfas is not an egg
It has been known for some time that people can get PFAS through their food. The unhealthy substances are also common in fish, coffee, tea, meat, fruit, vegetables and tap water. “The PFAS in eggs comes on top of that. Yet it is only an advice to take the eggs out the door,” says Polly. “People can decide for themselves what they eat. It’s not a ban.”
