Lotus Bakeries recalls products suspected to contain contaminated eggs

Belgian biscuit and snack maker Lotus Bakeries has withdrawn some of its products suspected to contain eggs contaminated with the insecticide fipronil.

The company has recalled its Madeleine cakes and frangipane waffles from Belgium supermarket shelves as a precautionary measure, after it found traces of fipronil in some products.

No other countries have been affected.

“Lotus Bakeries wishes to emphasise that only a few batches are affected. Therefore, all Lotus Bakeries products currently in store comply with the relevant legislation," said the €507m ($596m) company in a statement.

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Retailers in several European countries have already pulled millions of chicken eggs from supermarket shelves amid a scare over the use of insecticide fipronil, which can damage people’s kidneys, liver and thyroid glands if eaten in large quantities.

Poultry farms in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and France have been shut down due to fipronil use, while the UK, Sweden, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Denmark, Switzerland and Hong Kong have received contaminated eggs.

Lotus Bakeries, headquartered in Belgium, has a footprint across the EU, America and Asia, employing approximately 1,450 employees.

The company’s extensive basket of products includes recognised brands like Lotus, Lotus Biscoff and Peijnenburg and Snelle Jelle gingerbreads. Its Nākd, Trek, Bear and Urban Fruit snacks are manufactured from all-natural, unprocessed ingredients, with no added sugar.

Lotus Bakeries shares are listed on Euronext Brussels, which ended the day 3.7 percent lower after the announcement.

This site is awaiting comment from the company.