Tamil Nadu bans raw-egg mayonnaise over Salmonella and E. Coli fears
The Tamil Nadu government has imposed a sweeping one-year ban on the manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of mayonnaise prepared from raw eggs, citing urgent public health risks. The order, issued by the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, R Lalvena, came into effect on April 8 and is detailed in a notification published in the state gazette.
Mayonnaise, described in the official notification as a 'semi-solid emulsion containing egg yolk, vegetable oil, vinegar, and other seasonings served with food items such as shawarma', has come under scrutiny as a 'high food risk' due to the potential for food poisoning. The notification warns of particular dangers from 'Salmonella bacteria – Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes.'
The notification notes, 'It has come to notice that a number of food business operators use raw egg for preparation of mayonnaise, improper preparation and storage facilities, contamination by microorganisms, which creates a public health risk, particularly by Salmonella typhimurium (a primary enteric (intestinal) pathogen that infects both humans and animals), Salmonella enteritidis (major cause of food-borne illness, particularly associated with poultry and eggs), Escherichia coli (gram-negative bacteria that normally reside in the intestines of humans and animals, where most strains are harmless), and Listeria monocytogenes (a gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacterium responsible for listeriosis, a serious food-borne infection).'
The ban, officials say, is intended to prevent outbreaks of food-borne illness stemming from 'improper storage facilities' and 'contamination by microorganisms.'
The new order applies to 'any activities related to any stage of manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, transportation, distribution, food services, catering services and sale of mayonnaise prepared from raw egg', and is issued under section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (which empowers the commissioner to prohibit the manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of any food article in the interest of public health).
Mayonnaise's popularity as an accompaniment to shawarma and other fast foods has boomed in recent years, especially in urban Tamil Nadu, where small eateries and street vendors often rely on raw-egg-based preparations for their creamy texture. However, experts have repeatedly flagged the risks. 'Mayonnaise made of raw eggs is a high-risk food as it carries a risk of food poisoning…,' the notification states.
The move follows a pattern seen in other states and categories. In 2024, Punjab's Food and Drug Administration imposed a similar year-long ban on the sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children and near schools, citing 'serious health risks linked to caffeine and other stimulants'.
The Tamil Nadu government's notification makes it clear that 'no food business operator should manufacture, store, sell or distribute any food which for the time being is prohibited by the Food Authority or the Central Government or State government in the interest of public health'. It adds: 'In any specific circumstances, on the basis of assessment of available information and if the possibility of harmful effects on health is identified but scientific uncertainty persists, provisional risk management measures to ensure that health is protected can be adopted as per the Act, pending further scientific information for a more comprehensive risk assessment.'
The ban places raw-egg mayonnaise in the same category as gutka and pan masala, both previously banned in the state as hazardous food products.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra FDA suspends food licence of Blinkit dark store in Pune
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the food licence of quick commerce platform Blinkit in Pune 's Balewadi area for not complying with regulations. This comes after the authorities stepped up surveillance of dark stores amid concerns around food safety and hygiene in these facilities. The Maharashtra FDA conducted an investigation on June 5 and found that the facility did not have a licence from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India for production, distribution or sale of food items. Following this, the facility's food business licence was suspended until the required licence under Section 31 (1) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, is obtained. Despite the lack of a licence, the Blinkit facility, operated by M/s Energy Darkstore Services near Mitcon College in Balewadi, was storing and selling food items. Blinkit did not respond to detailed queries on the matter. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories In the same order, the authorities noted that the facility had also violated food safety measures. They found food items on the floor, the pest control audit certificate missing, workers in the food area not wearing protective caps, food items stored on dusty racks and a cold storage without a calibration certificate. Last week, a similar probe was conducted at quick commerce platform Zepto's Dharavi facility and its food business licence was suspended after it was found to be in violation of food safety guidelines. The violations included fungal growth on food articles, food storage near stagnant water, the cold storage temperature not being maintained and expired food items unsegregated from the main stock, as per a press note by the FDA. Also Read: Concerns rise over hygiene standards in dark stores amid quick commerce boom
NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
1.7 Million Eggs Recalled Across US Amid Salmonella Outbreak, 79 Cases So Far
A widespread Salmonella outbreak has prompted the recall of approximately 1.7 million brown cage-free and organic eggs across the United States, raising concerns about food safety and public health. The recall, initiated by the August Egg Company based in Hilmar, California, follows reports of 79 illnesses across seven states, with 21 hospitalisations. No deaths have been reported as of June 8, 2025. The outbreak, linked to Salmonella Enteritidis, has affected consumers in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, and Washington, with eggs distributed to nine states, including New Mexico and Wyoming. "We immediately began diverting all eggs to an egg-breaking facility, which pasteurises the eggs and kills any pathogens," August Egg Company stated. They are also conducting an internal review to prevent future outbreaks. The Outbreak and Its Impact The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating the multistate outbreak, which has been traced to eggs supplied by the August Egg Company. The recalled eggs, sold under brands such as Clover, Marketside, Raley's, O Organics, and Sunnyside, were distributed to major retailers like Walmart, Safeway, Save Mart, and Ralphs between February 3 and May 15, 2025. Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne illness in the U.S., causing about 1.35 million infections annually. Symptoms include diarrhoea, fever, and abdominal cramps, typically appearing 6 hours to 6 days after consumption. While most recover within a week, severe cases can occur, particularly in children under five, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC advises consumers to discard or return recalled eggs and sanitise any surfaces or items that may have come into contact with them. This egg recall is part of a string of recent Salmonella-related incidents in the U.S. Last month, the FDA announced a recall of cucumbers from Bedner Growers, linked to 45 illnesses across 18 states. What Consumers Should Do? The CDC and FDA urge consumers to: Check for recalled eggs: Look for brands like Clover, First Street, or Marketside with plant codes P-6562 or CA5330 and sell-by dates between March 4 and June 19, 2025 Dispose of or return: Throw away recalled eggs or return them to the point of purchase for a refund. Sanitise surfaces: Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces with hot, soapy water to prevent cross-contamination.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Salmonella outbreak in the US: Eggs recalled after illnesses reported across 7 States
Think your breakfast eggs were just fine? Think again. A recent Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak linked to cage-free and organic brown eggs has sickened 79 people across seven U.S. states, sending 21 to the hospital—and triggering a massive recall of 1.7 million dozen eggs by California's August Egg Company. On June 6, 2025, the CDC issued a public health warning: dozens of Salmonella cases, all linked to the same egg strain. These folks got sick between February and May, but the alert just dropped—perfect timing to wreck your June brunch plans. The CDC report revealed that 79 people across Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Washington, and Wyoming fell ill. That's a big spread, all connected by the same egg brand. "Recalled brown cage free eggs and brown certified organic eggs, with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 4, 2025, were distributed in California and Nevada to retail locations including Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, Smart & Final, Safeway, Raleys, Food 4 Less and Ralphs," the US CDC says. "The eggs were also distributed to Walmart locations in California, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Indiana and Illinois with sell by dates from March 4, 2025, to June 19, 2025," it adds. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo August Egg Company voluntarily recalled 1.7 million dozen brown cage-free and organic eggs produced in Hilmar, CA. The culprit? Plant codes P-6562 or CA5330,, spanning early March to early June sell-by dates. If you stocked up on ova lately, better check your fridge. Data from the CDC and FDA shows that surveyed patients confirmed eating eggs or egg dishes before getting sick. . Symptoms like diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and cramps usually started 12–72 hours post-meal. Worst-hit groups include young kids, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems—who are more likely to need hospitalization or IV fluids . Safety rules Use only pasteurized eggs for recipes like raw cookie dough or homemade mayonnaise . Always refrigerate eggs, cook them until yolks are hard, wash hands and utensils after handling Clean and sanitize surfaces after any raw egg contact Check UPC codes and plant numbers before cooking anything egg-based recently. Check your carton for plant codes P‑6562 or CA5330. Dispose of or return any matching eggs, cooked or raw. Thoroughly clean surfaces that touched the eggs with hot, soapy water. Monitor symptoms if you ate them: look out for diarrhea lasting over 3 days, high fever, blood in stool, vomiting, dehydration. Eggs have been in short supply due to avian flu and soaring prices. This outbreak stings extra because consumers were already scrambling. Plus, it reminds us that 'natural,' 'organic,' or 'cage-free' labels don't mean immune to bugs. Packaging strategy doesn't kill pathogens—it just risks spreading them further. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
