VietNamNet Bridge - There are no fake eggs in Viet Nam’s markets, confirmed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Livestock Breeding Department director Hoang Kim Giao, in reaction to a rumour about fake eggs in Binh Chanh Market.

Last week, Nguyen Thi Kim Loan, a resident in Binh Chanh Commune, Binh Chanh District, bought 15 eggs at the market. When she got home, she noticed that they had thin shells, pinkish egg whites and dark red yolks.

These signs raised concerns with consumers, as the eggs were thought to be fakes.

Phan Hieu Dan, vice head of the market’s Management Board, said that retailers refused to purchase eggs from household poultry breeders during the past week.

"Egg retailers have now resumed their businesses, as the relevant authorities have confirmed that there are no fake eggs. The strange eggs were a result of a certain kind of chicken feed," said Dan.

Nguyen Thi Ha, a seller at the market, said that the eggs were soaked with vinegar to attract consumers.

"They soak the eggs for about 15 minutes so they look brighter and more delicious, like home-bred chicken eggs," said Ha.

"They can make more money from these eggs," said Ha.

Nguyen Kim Chung, another seller in the market, said that vinegar-soaked eggs would have their albumen turned pink and opaque.

Pham Thi Huan, director of the Ba Huan Co Ltd, a well-known egg trading company in HCM City, agreed with the retailers, adding that vinegar would not harm people’s health or have any side effects.

Huan also said that eggs from home-bred chickens were rarer, so consumers should choose from well-known shops and buy products with clear origins. However Giao said that chemical usage would not change the insides of the eggs.

"It takes quite a long time to change the colour. It’s the chicken feed that changes the eggs’ colour. Those fed with dark food will produce eggs with dark yolks," Giao said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Animal Health Department director, Dau Ngoc Hao, said that nothing had been reported on the fake eggs so far.

Hao also said that eggs were a sophisticated natural product, so it was difficult to make fakes of them.

VNN/VNS

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