"Lutein Detected in Eggs" Controversy Escalates as Reporter Visits Multiple Supermarkets in Nanjing

(Source: Nanjing Morning Post)

Reprinted from: Nanjing Morning Post

Multiple supermarkets in Nanjing are still selling “Yellow Swan” eggs. Photo by Jin Lei

On the eve of March 15, anti-fraud investigator Wang Hai’s team revealed that eggs sold by “Pang Dong Lai” tested positive for carotenoids, and the brands involved include the well-known egg brand “Yellow Swan.” In recent days, the incident has continued to escalate, with Pang Dong Lai and “Yellow Swan” issuing statements one after another. So, what is the current situation of “Yellow Swan” eggs on sale? How do consumers view this matter? Yesterday, reporters visited several supermarkets in Nanjing.

The incident heats up

Pang Dong Lai: Has conducted comprehensive re-testing; if no issues are found, responsible parties will be held accountable

In response to blogger “Wang Hai Testing” claiming that eggs sold by Pang Dong Lai tested positive for carotenoids, on the evening of March 15, Pang Dong Lai issued a statement saying that the relevant investigations by market regulatory authorities and third-party re-tests have not yet yielded results. If the final results show problems with the eggs, they will be publicly announced immediately, and the recall and removal process will be initiated promptly, with legal responsibility assumed according to law. If no issues are found, Pang Dong Lai will resolutely pursue legal action to defend rights, holding individuals, media, and platforms accountable.

Pang Dong Lai explained that carotenoids are naturally occurring or synthetic carotenoids widely found in algae, fungi, fish, and other plants and animals, and can be used as feed additives. Currently, there are no national regulations or standards limiting carotenoid levels in fresh eggs. All eggs sold in stores are legally purchased through formal channels, with complete procurement procedures and qualified testing reports. The company’s testing center conducts weekly random inspections of fresh eggs, with results publicly displayed in stores, confirming product quality and compliance with national standards. To ensure product quality and safety, they have sent the eggs to Merieux Testing Technologies (Qingdao) Co., Ltd., Intertek Standard Technical Services (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., and Henan Huace Testing Technology Co., Ltd. for comprehensive re-examination. Meanwhile, market regulatory authorities have inspected the procurement compliance of the products and sampled various brands of eggs for testing. All egg manufacturers are cooperating with local authorities to investigate breeding farms thoroughly.

“Yellow Swan”: Interpreting “detection” as “addition” is misleading

Regarding the incident, “Yellow Swan” also issued multiple statements, emphasizing that the online claim that “detection equals artificial addition” is a serious misinterpretation and confuses the facts. The detected value belongs to the “natural background level,” and the product has never been artificially added with any synthetic coloring agents.

On the evening of March 15, Fengji Food Group Co., Ltd., the parent company of “Yellow Swan,” released an official statement addressing the public concern over the 0.399 mg/kg value, explaining that this detection result “significantly lower than other detection values” is a natural background level of carotenoids that eggs may contain, not due to artificial addition. The statement emphasized that some online comments directly equate “detection” with “addition,” which is misleading. The statement also disclosed specific procurement data: the company spends over ten million yuan annually on natural plant extracts such as marigold and chili, with full-year procurement contracts and invoices available as proof. It pointed out that if only trace amounts of carotenoids were added, it would not justify the cost, which would be “not worth the candle.”

On March 16, “Yellow Swan” further sent a lawyer’s letter to the media, stating that the videos and articles claiming “Yellow Swan” eggs tested positive for artificial carotenoids have caused serious adverse effects, severely infringing on the company’s legal rights and causing economic losses and negative impacts. Fengji Food Group will pursue legal responsibility for those responsible. The letter also questioned the media, criticizing the video for equating “detection of carotenoids” directly with “adding artificial synthetic coloring,” which is a serious mislead to the public. At the end of the statement, “Yellow Swan” emotionally expressed: “Our company has been dedicated to the industry for many years, insisting on quality, and carefully producing every egg. Yet we are subjected to baseless rumors and slander, with our brand reputation and legal rights severely damaged. Many uninformed consumers are even misjudging and insulting us. We are at a loss.”

Reporter visits

“Yellow Swan” eggs still on sale in supermarkets; no related issue notices received

On March 13, blogger “Wang Hai Testing” posted a video claiming that eggs from Pang Dong Lai tested positive for a synthetic coloring agent called carotenoid, with a content of 9.54 mg/kg, exceeding the maximum allowed amount of 8 mg/kg in poultry feed as per the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs’ “Standards for Safe Use of Feed Additives.” In the table he published, eggs from “Yellow Swan” were also tested, showing a carotenoid level of 0.399 mg/kg.

The reporter learned that the “Sunglin Free-range Selenium-rich Eggs” with a carotenoid content of 9.54 mg/kg, as claimed by Wang Hai’s team, is sold locally. For consumers in Nanjing, the more pressing concern is whether the “Yellow Swan” eggs available in supermarkets are of quality issues. The reporter visited several supermarkets in Nanjing and found that “Yellow Swan” eggs are still being sold. In a well-known supermarket, staff told the reporter they had commissioned a third-party testing company, which found no quality problems and would not remove the products. Another supermarket also stated that they had received a formal statement from “Yellow Swan” denying the addition of artificial coloring agents, asserting that the trace carotenoids detected are at natural background levels, not artificially added, and that they have initiated third-party re-testing and legal actions. So far, no notices from market regulators or authoritative third-party agencies indicating problems with the eggs have been received.

Consumers’ shopping attitudes affected; hope for authoritative conclusions

While Wang Hai’s team and the merchants are engaged in a “legal battle” online, the impact on the brand has already begun to show.

The reporter interviewed several consumers. Many said they are unsure what carotenoids actually are, and some had never heard of them before, but the incident has affected their shopping mindset.

Ms. Xie, who has frequently purchased “Yellow Swan” eggs in recent years, told the reporter that a dozen eggs from this brand costs about 2 yuan more than others, but she still often buys them, wanting to give her family the best products. The brand’s slogan of “safe to eat raw” and high standards make her willing to pay a premium. She said the eggs taste good and look nice. However, after seeing the news about “Yellow Swan” eggs testing positive for carotenoids, she immediately shared it with her family. “As an ordinary consumer, I don’t understand some of the technical terms, but I do have doubts now. I think I’ll hold off on buying for a while and wait for the next results,” she said.

Another consumer, Ms. Qin, also expressed similar feelings. She said she often buys “Yellow Swan” eggs because she feels they are more trustworthy than others. “Maybe I should buy fewer for now, at least until I understand what’s really going on.”

However, some consumers said that after the news, they looked up information about carotenoids online and learned that it is a carotenoid pigment found naturally in various foods like mushrooms, shellfish, fish, and eggs, and can also be artificially synthesized. If that’s the case, it wouldn’t affect their willingness to buy; they would still purchase.

Nevertheless, all the interviewed consumers hope that authoritative departments will clarify what carotenoids are, whether their presence in food is safe, and help clear up consumer confusion with professional explanations.

Intern Reporter Li Jixin

Nanjing Morning Post / Love Nanjing Reporter Jin Lei, Zhong Min, Li Lin