News: Fake egg in Myanmar

Warning from the Ministry of Health

On 31 July, Myanmar official news papers report about fake eggs entering Myanmar through border from neighbouring countries. According to official announcement from Ministry of Health, fake eggs made by chemical means are appearing in markets along the border areas as well as some markets inside Myanmar. These eggs are similar to ordinary eggs and cannot be distinguished easily.

Made with chemical powders

According to the announcement, the white of the fake egg is made of benzoic acid, jelly, unknown chemical substance, chemicals used in the production of starch gravy and baking powder. The yolk of the fake egg is made of unknown yellow substance, mixed with unknown fluid and calcium chloride. This fluid is known as “magic water“.

These two parts (fake yolk and fake white) are poured into the plastic mould to make fake egg. Magic water prevents the two parts from mixing together, by forming a thin layer of film. The egg shell is made of a mixture of paraffin containing wax and an unknown white substance. This mixture is poured onto the formed yolk and white, let to dry for a few minutes. The result is a fake egg, indistinguishable to the real egg.

Be careful when you buy egg

The fake egg does not contain any protein or nutrients. Instead, due to the chemicals contained in the fake egg, the fake egg might be harmful to your health, the Health Ministry’s warning stated. These fake eggs are entering into markets in border areas and inside Myanmar through border with neighbouring countries.

How to distinguish real and fake egg

According to the official warning, the fake egg, when shaken vigorously, will produce a vibration while the real one will not. If you spin the real and the fake eggs together on a smooth surface, the fake egg will spin faster and longer than the real egg.

Moreover, the fake egg, compared to the real one, is darker in color, and more shiny and reflective to light. The surface of the fake egg shell is also rougher than the real one. When you put the content of the fake egg, the yolk and the white become mixed. The thin film inside the shell of the real egg is also lacking in the fake one. After boiling, the fake egg’s yolk and white mix together.

Currently, the Ministry of Health laboratories are doing the detailed analysis of the fake egg and will report to the public of its findings.

The Ministry also warned the shop keepers not to sell the fake eggs as well as restaurants not to use fake eggs in their food. The announcement also ask anyone who found the fake egg to report to the authorities.