Millions in France warned not to eat eggs from backyard chickens due to forever chemical pollution

French health authorities have reiterated warnings to millions of residents not to eat eggs from domestic coops in the Île de France region. 

The warning comes after a new study confirmed that soil and eggs are contaminated by forever chemicals and toxins.

A precautionary warning first came in February 2022 for certain areas of the region. This was then expanded to the whole region in May 2023 following a preliminary investigation. The results of that study were confirmed and released this week leading the authority to confirm its warning.

It covers the 410 municipalities which make up the urban area of Paris. This includes Paris, all the municipalities of Seine-Saint-Denis, Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, certain municipalities of Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Essonne and Val-d'Oise.

Tests by ToxicoWatch Foundation in 2022 found very high levels of dioxins in domestic backyard chicken coops near the largest waste incinerator in Europe, located in Paris. Authorities have now carried out their own research in 25 hen houses and confirmed their initial warning.

There is "ubiquitous [widespread] contamination of soil and eggs from domestic chicken farms in Paris and the inner suburbs by persistent organic pollutants [POPs]" such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (known as PFAS or forever chemicals), the agency explains in a press release.

Per- or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) is the name given to thousands of complex man-made chemicals. They are used in everything from non-stick frying pans to toiletries, food packaging and firefighting foams.

They have been a threat to public health since the 1950s when the number of uses, names and applications for this group of chemicals