Around 700,000 potentially infected eggs have been imported into Britain from Dutch farms, according to the Food Standards Agency.

The affected eggs have been contaminated with an insecticide called Fipronil.

What is Fipronil?

It is an anti-tick and flea pesticide which is banned in products which are destined for the human food chain.

What are the effects of consuming Fipronil?

Adverse effects include sweating, nausea, vomiting, headache, stomach pain, dizziness, weakness, and seizures, according to the US National Pesticide Information Centre.

How did the contamination start?

Police launched an investigation into the illegal use of Fipronil on poultry farms and said dozens of raids have taken place in the Netherlands.

How widespread is the problem?

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the 700,000 potentially infected eggs imported to the UK represent 0.007% of the eggs consumed in the UK every year and it was "very unlikely" there is any risk to public health from consuming these foods.

What's happened in the UK as a result?



What's happening in other European countries?

Millions of eggs have been pulled from supermarket shelves in Germany as well as Belgium and the Netherlands, while 40 eggs from a farm affected by Fipronil have been found at a baker in Denmark.

Luxembourg said it had received eggs from a Belgian producer which were found to contain Fipronil while in Romania, 1,000 kilograms of eggs will be incinerated.




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