Renowned Brand Announces Product Destruction, Emergency Recall! Consumers Confused: The Whole Family Eats It Every Day, Is It Safe to Eat? Expert Detailed Explanation

Recently, Huang Tian’e raw eggs were reported to contain artificial carotenoids (canthaxanthin, a synthetic dye), leading to accusations of false advertising by the brand. The company behind the “Huang Tian’e” brand, Fengji Food Group Co., Ltd., has issued multiple statements denying the addition of artificial ingredients, but the brand remains under public scrutiny.

On March 17, a reporter learned from the well-known bakery brand Guanglian Shen that they previously sold two products related to Huang Tian’e—Huang Tian’e breakfast eggs and Lao Ding egg cakes. Currently, one has been removed from stores, and the other has been replaced with a different egg brand that no longer uses Huang Tian’e eggs.

A staff member from Guanglian Shen told reporters, “On the day Huang Tian’e was involved, we stopped cooperation immediately. The products from that day were also temporarily halted and destroyed.”

“The Louis Vuitton of eggs”

Facing a crisis

On the evening of March 15, the anti-fraud team led by Wang Hai posted a video on social media claiming that eggs from multiple brands, including Huang Tian’e, tested positive for canthaxanthin, raising suspicions of artificial coloring.

Huang Tian’e responded publicly, stating they did not use artificial canthaxanthin. The trace amounts detected were at natural background levels. They also mentioned that local market regulators had conducted on-site sampling and were awaiting official test results.

The reporter noted that there have been multiple exchanges online between the two sides, with the core dispute revolving around the source of the detected canthaxanthin in the eggs.

According to a video released by Wang Hai, tests showed Huang Tian’e eggs contained 0.399 mg/kg of canthaxanthin, while eggs purchased from Yonghui Supermarket contained 1.65 mg/kg. Wang Hai posted on social media that eggs fed with natural feed should not contain canthaxanthin and suggested the presence was due to artificial coloring added via feed.

On the evening of March 15, Fengji Food Group Co., Ltd., which owns Huang Tian’e eggs, issued a statement.

While denying the artificial addition of canthaxanthin, they admitted to “dyeing” the egg yolks—using natural plant extracts such as marigold and chili peppers, which they purchase annually at a cost of over ten million yuan.

On the evening of March 16, Huang Tian’e founder and Chairman Feng Bin, along with Zhang Qionglian, Director of R&D at Fengji Food, responded to recent questions about canthaxanthin during a live broadcast on Huang Tian’e’s official flagship store. Both repeatedly emphasized that Huang Tian’e does not add artificial coloring agents. Feng Bin and other executives mentioned that, according to EU standards, consuming 75 Huang Tian’e eggs daily would reach the threshold of safety concerns.

Feng Bin also addressed the negative public opinion caused by the fraud accusations, saying he initially felt very wronged. After calming down for an afternoon, he was able to view the anti-fraud actions rationally. He expressed hope that clarifying the canthaxanthin issue across the industry would be beneficial for consumers.

The canthaxanthin controversy

Public information shows that canthaxanthin, also known as canthaxanthin yellow, is a carotenoid pigment widely found in nature. It is used as a food additive, dietary supplement, or animal feed colorant, including in eggs, where the yolk color mainly depends on the carotenoid content in the feed.

According to the “Regulations on the Safe Use of Feed Additives,” canthaxanthin is a legal coloring agent permitted in poultry production, with a maximum addition limit of 8 mg/kg in poultry feed. However, there are no specific standards for finished eggs, so its use has been relatively obscure.

Wu Shugen, a researcher at the Feed Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, stated that public concern has shifted incorrectly. Canthaxanthin has been used globally since 1984 as an additive. It does not color mammals and has antioxidant properties besides coloring. It is harmless and even beneficial to hens, chicks, and humans. For many years, there have been no standards for canthaxanthin in finished eggs in China, and no related standards have been developed, which in some ways indicates it is not a matter worth concern.

According to standards from the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for canthaxanthin is 0.03 mg/kg body weight. For a 70 kg adult, this amounts to 2.1 mg per day. Based on Wang Hai’s test results, one Huang Tian’e egg contains approximately 0.02 mg of canthaxanthin, well within safe limits.

However, Wu Shugen believes that the controversy over canthaxanthin serves as a warning to the industry. On one hand, relevant authorities and companies need to increase investment in additive research, such as distinguishing between natural and artificial additives and understanding their efficacy, to promote efficient and rational use of additives. On the other hand, public education should be strengthened to prevent a disconnect between scientific research and popular science.

During a live broadcast on March 16, Feng Bin, founder of Huang Tian’e and chairman of Fengji Food Group, stated that the incident revealed a lack of standards and regulation regarding egg yolor coloration, which could serve as a catalyst for industry improvement. Huang Tian’e plans to develop standards related to egg color, providing a basis for production and regulation of naturally or artificially colored eggs and yolks.

Netizens’ comments:

“I just want to know if I can still eat them, my whole family eats these eggs every day.”

Many consumers remain worried, as their elderly and children are eating these eggs.

11: “You argue among yourselves, I just want to know if I can still eat them. The whole family eats every day.”

Uncle Zhi’s pet owner: “We specifically bought Huang Tian’e eggs. Please don’t let anything happen!”

Feixiang: “I silently watch the Huang Tian’e eggs in my fridge.”

Lonely Era Still Thinking of Her: “I just want to ask, do farm-raised local chickens have canthaxanthin? If not, then it’s probably added via special feed, which is problematic.”

Feng Qingwang: “It’s not synthetic dye, whether natural extract or not, but that’s a different matter from not adding any dye at all.”

Others are waiting for official test results.

Xiao Bei: “Waiting for the official statement.”

Morning Bell: “What are the standards? Are there any standards? The authorities need to clarify.”

Yang Yin: “Instead of rushing to issue a ‘self-explanation,’ they should openly publish test results, sources of the issue, and risk assessments, leaving the choice to consumers.”

Jiang An Linfeng: “Let the legal process clarify who is right.”

Xinmin Evening News (xmwb1929) compiled from Blue Whale News, First Financial Daily, China News Agency, Morning News

Editor: Wei Jiawei