• Acknowledge limited storage facilities 

With allegations being made on social media suggesting that large-scale egg producers in Sri Lanka are using harmful preservation methods to store millions of eggs amid a drop in egg prices, local egg producers refuted such, claiming that such methods are not used by anyone in the industry. 

The online reports claim that producers are fumigating warehouses with a toxic chemical to prolong the shelf life of eggs up to 45 days, which could allegedly increase the risk of bone marrow and lung cancers for consumers.

When contacted by The Daily Morning yesterday (5), All Ceylon Egg Producers' Association (ACEPA) President Sarath Rathnayake stated that the said allegations are “baseless and not scientifically proven”. Rathnayake dismissed the concerns raised by these reports, clarifying that there is no practice of fumigating eggs to extend their shelf life, adding also that existing storage facilities for eggs are limited within the country. 

He explained that Sri Lanka's storage facilities, especially large cooling stores, were primarily utilised during the Covid-19 pandemic to manage the supply. Even then, he noted, efforts to store eggs for extended periods were largely unsuccessful. “During the pandemic, we attempted to store eggs in cooling facilities, but it was ineffective. Eggs could not be preserved under those conditions,” Rathnayake remarked. He argued that if cooling-based storage was unsuccessful at that time, the current allegations of chemical fumigation as a preservation method lack credibility.

Additionally, Rathnayake highlighted that the natural lifespan of an egg is approximately 15 days, making it infeasible for traders or producers to preserve eggs for prolonged periods through any artificial means. “The idea that eggs could be preserved this way does not align with our experience or with practical storage capabilities in the country,” he said.

Rathnayake also challenged those making the allegations, urging them to substantiate their claims with evidence. He encouraged the Government to conduct any necessary investigations into these matters, emphasising the ACEPA’s commitment to transparency. “If there are doubts, let the authorities investigate,” he said, expressing confidence that such an inquiry would dispel any misconceptions regarding egg preservation practices in Sri Lanka.