[Update] Eggoz Controversy: Now, FSSAI To Verify Safety Of Eggs

Update | December 15, 16:34 IST

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Eggoz’s eggs, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is now taking a deeper look into the claims of presence of carcinogenic substances.

Citing sources, news agency ANI said that the FSSAI has asked its regional offices to collect samples of branded and unbranded eggs for testing.

The said samples would be sent for tests to 10 laboratories across the country to check the presence of nitrofurans. Meanwhile, the startup continues to maintain that its eggs are safe for consumption.

Eggoz released an “NABL-accredited” lab reports over the weekend which showed that carcinogenic compounds were found to be below the limit of quantification in its eggs. It said that the lab evaluated microbiological safety, chemical composition, heavy metals, antibiotics, pesticides, natural toxins, and other contaminants using internationally accepted methods.

Original | December 11, 21:08 IST

Amid a brewing controversy over alleged cancer causing chemicals in Eggoz’s eggs, founder Abhishek Negi has outright denied the claims made by YouTube channel Trustified, adding that the startup will release an independent report by the weekend.

Trustified, a channel known for independently testing food and health products, had released a video a couple of days ago that claimed that a sample of Eggoz eggs tested positive for a chemical linked to cancer. Since release, the video has gained Lakhs of views on YouTube and has become viral across other social media platforms.

Amid the virality that the video had gained, Eggoz took to LinkedIn to clarify that its eggs are completely safe for consumption. CEO Negi reiterated that the company conducts quality checks every 2–3 months to maintain standards.

“I am shocked and deeply disappointed by the misinformation and the fear it has created. Thousands of you have trusted Eggoz over the last six years because we didn’t just talk about better eggs – we built an entire system to deliver them. We were the first brand in India to introduce 11 safety checks, 100% herbal feed, and full batch-level transparency,” Negi said.

Sharing a report, the founder said that the startup’s eggs contain “no banned materials, no pesticides, no heavy metals, and nothing harmful”.

Meanwhile, the YouTuber said that all antibiotics that it tested for Eggoz are below the limit of quantification (LOQ) which is the lowest concentration of a substance that can be measured reliably with acceptable accuracy and precision in a sample. The influencer also flagged two banned drugs, nitrofurans and nitroimidazoles, that are prohibited in most countries. These antibiotics are typically used in poultry to control bacteria, infections, and diseases, which helps maintain stable egg production.

The catch here is that Eggoz claims on its website that its eggs contain “no added antibiotics.”

Trustified said it found the nitrofuran metabolite AOZ at 0.73 µg/kg, above the limit of quantification LOQ of 0.4. Eggoz’s own report from November 16 also showed the presence of banned antibiotics like Nitrofurans (AOZ) and Nitrofurazone (SEM) at 0.5 µg/kg- within the FSSR maximum limit of 1 µg/kg.

To note, the import, manufacture, sale, and distribution of all formulations containing nitrofurans for use in any food-producing animal rearing system are banned in India. These chemical compounds are banned for a reason. The metabolites are considered so carcinogenic (cancer promoting) that even small residues are unsafe. Continuous exposure, even at low levels, can damage DNA, harm the reproductive and immune systems.

Trustified’s report also evaluated nutritional claims, finding them largely consistent with what Eggoz claims. It gave the brand a clean chit for heavy metals, stating that all heavy metals and pesticides were below LOQ.

Negi, however, stressed that this controversy shouldn’t dent the momentum in India’s egg market. The Indian poultry market stood at INR 2,304 Bn in 2024 and is projected to reach INR 8,430 Bn by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 12.60% between 2025 and 2033. This is the landscape Eggoz operates in alongwith legacy players like Suguna Foods and Srinivasa Farms, and newer brands such as Egg Bucket, HenFruit and Eggee.

Financially, Eggoz grew its operating revenue 34% to INR 73.1 Cr in FY24 from INR 54.71 Cr in FY23, while reducing its net loss 23.78% to INR 25 Cr from INR 32.8 Cr. Negi told Inc42 that the company has closed FY25 at around INR 130 Cr in revenue.

Founded in 2017 by Negi, Uttam Kumar, and Aditya Singh, Eggoz works on an integrated farming model, sourcing eggs from poultry partners and supplying them to retailers.

The startup provides farmers support, training, and technology including IoT devices and a farmer app to improve hen health and egg production. Negi said the company also controls the feed and other inputs given to the hens.

The Gurugram-based brand operates across Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, and Indore. Its eggs are available online on Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, as well as offline in retail stores.

Eggoz entered the ready-to-cook category in 2024 with egg-based momos, burger patties, and nuggets part of its push into frozen, protein-rich snacks to meet rising demand for convenient, nutritious meals.

The startup also raised $20 Mn From Gaja Capital, others earlier this year. Overall, Eggoz has raised close to $35 Mn from investors like Merisis Venture Partners, Nabventures, Avaana Capital, Rebright Partners, IvyCap Ventures, among others.

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