January 4, 2011

German state closes thousand farms over heightened dioxin levels in eggs

Around 1,000 farms are being closed in the German state of Lower Saxony following high concentrations of dioxin found in eggs and animal feed, the state agriculture ministry reported Monday (Jan 3).

The affected farms are thought to have purchased fat for animal feed that was contaminated with dioxin, the ministry said. The farm closures were a cautionary measure while tests were carried out. The closed farms raise egg-laying chicken, pigs and turkey.

Saxony has more than 50,000 farms, the state agriculture ministry said. Reports of high concentration of dioxin in eggs and poultry have risen in the past week after the first anomalous findings were registered mid-December.

Last week, up to double the permitted levels of dioxin were found in eggs and chickens in two farms in North Rhine-Westphalia. At one farm, 8,000 laying hens were culled after eating contaminated feed.

The regional veterinarian estimated that around 120,000 contaminated eggs had reached the shops, but said several thousand were being returned. While it appeared that the dioxin entered Germany from a Dutch supplier, agriculture authorities in the affected states were investigating how the contaminated fat had reached the farms in the form of animal feed.

North German animal feed manufacturer Harles & Jentzsch said a Dutch supplier had delivered contaminated fat, which in turn had emanated from a bio-diesel plant run by Petrotech AG in Germany. Petrotech AG produce the plant-based fatty acid as a by-product in the manufacture of bio-diesel from palm, soy and rapeseed oil. The corporation refused to comment.