Doctors express concern over their long-term effects
By Jung Min-ho
A health association has expressed concern over the health risks of eggs contaminated with insecticides, rebutting the government's claims that they pose no major health concern.
The Korean Society of Environmental Health (KSEH) said Tuesday that the Ministry of Food Safety overlooked such eggs' long-term effects when it announced that "an adult will be fine unless the person eats more than 126 such eggs a day."
"Our biggest concern is the effects of chronic toxicity because people eat eggs almost every day," the KSEH said in a statement. "The ministry should investigate chronic toxicity instead of saying the risk of acute toxicity is low."
During its investigation into tainted eggs, the ministry found five chemical agents ― fipronil, bifenthrin, flufenoxuron, etoxazole and pyridaben, which are used to kill insect pests.
"The ministry made a hasty conclusion based on insufficient information," the KSEH said. "It is not a proper way to deal with the problem."
The KSEH also urged the government to improve the country's health-management systems fundamentally so that it will be able to better cope and communicate with the people when the next one comes.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA) agreed with the KSEH's point.
"It is correct that insecticides do not stay in the body for a long time. However, it is unclear whether repeated exposure to them is safe in the long run," a KMA PR official said.
Although the amount of insecticides found in eggs is not very concerning based on previous studies, the effects of chronic toxicity to human bodies are little known, experts say.
During a meeting at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon admitted that the ministry did not "elaborate enough" when explaining how it reached the conclusion. He said he will make sure to improve the current health-management systems.
So far, the ministry has found eggs contaminated with high levels of insecticides in 52 farms across the country and millions of them have been destroyed.
On Monday, President Moon Jae-in apologized for the scandal.
"I apologize for causing concern to the public. The scandal not only shocked consumers, but farmers, restaurant owners and the food manufacturing industry. I am aware food safety directly affects public health. I will do my best to restore public trust in the government," he said during a Cabinet meeting.
By Jung Min-ho
A health association has expressed concern over the health risks of eggs contaminated with insecticides, rebutting the government's claims that they pose no major health concern.
The Korean Society of Environmental Health (KSEH) said Tuesday that the Ministry of Food Safety overlooked such eggs' long-term effects when it announced that "an adult will be fine unless the person eats more than 126 such eggs a day."
"Our biggest concern is the effects of chronic toxicity because people eat eggs almost every day," the KSEH said in a statement. "The ministry should investigate chronic toxicity instead of saying the risk of acute toxicity is low."
During its investigation into tainted eggs, the ministry found five chemical agents ― fipronil, bifenthrin, flufenoxuron, etoxazole and pyridaben, which are used to kill insect pests.
"The ministry made a hasty conclusion based on insufficient information," the KSEH said. "It is not a proper way to deal with the problem."
The KSEH also urged the government to improve the country's health-management systems fundamentally so that it will be able to better cope and communicate with the people when the next one comes.
The Korean Medical Association (KMA) agreed with the KSEH's point.
"It is correct that insecticides do not stay in the body for a long time. However, it is unclear whether repeated exposure to them is safe in the long run," a KMA PR official said.
Although the amount of insecticides found in eggs is not very concerning based on previous studies, the effects of chronic toxicity to human bodies are little known, experts say.
During a meeting at the National Assembly, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon admitted that the ministry did not "elaborate enough" when explaining how it reached the conclusion. He said he will make sure to improve the current health-management systems.
So far, the ministry has found eggs contaminated with high levels of insecticides in 52 farms across the country and millions of them have been destroyed.
On Monday, President Moon Jae-in apologized for the scandal.
"I apologize for causing concern to the public. The scandal not only shocked consumers, but farmers, restaurant owners and the food manufacturing industry. I am aware food safety directly affects public health. I will do my best to restore public trust in the government," he said during a Cabinet meeting.
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