India faces rising concerns over adulterated eggs alongside fake paneer

India is facing a serious problem with eggs, and it reflects a larger issue in the country’s food industry—adulteration and low-quality products, especially on quick-commerce apps like Blinkit and Instamart. These platforms charge high prices, but the quality often fails to match.

A year ago, some egg brands promised high quality. One brand, for example, sold “jumbo” eggs that were large, clean, and consistent. They matched US and European standards for size and freshness. People were happy with them. But over time, things changed. The packaging became fancier, but the eggs themselves became smaller, thinner, and less fresh. Some were almost translucent, and their taste varied. The once reliable “jumbo” eggs were no longer consistent.

This problem is not limited to one brand. Almost all egg brands now show inconsistencies in size, freshness, and taste. Many have fancy names like “Natural + VitaD,” “Protein Max,” or “Nutra Plus Specialty,” but these names often mean very little. The quality rarely matches the marketing.

How the industry creates problems

The food business often works on a principle of “make it until you can fake it.” Initially, a brand may produce high-quality eggs to attract customers and gain a strong reputation. Once the brand is popular, it may lower standards to cut costs or increase profits. This shift happens because of the weak regulation in India’s food industry. Many food businesses, especially on quick-commerce apps, are not closely monitored for quality.

Egg brands often make exaggerated claims to attract consumers. Some claim that hens eat dry fruits to produce better eggs. Others say their hens eat a mix of dry fruits and orange juice so eggs taste “nutty and fruity.” Many brands even claim to offer multivitamins, iron, and magnesium in eggs. Some boast about hens taking 10,000 steps a day or living a “free-range” lifestyle. These stories are marketing tactics to appeal to health-conscious buyers, but they rarely reflect reality.

The result is an industry focused more on appearances and marketing than actual quality. Consumers may get eggs with fancy packaging and high prices, but the eggs themselves are often small, inconsistent, and sometimes not fresh.

Comparison with global standards

India’s egg standards lag behind those in the US and Europe. For example, a regular US egg weighs around 50 grams, and even small eggs are slightly above 40 grams. In Europe, eggs are slightly larger. In India, eggs labeled “large” or “extra-large” often weigh only 45–50 grams. While this may be acceptable if eggs are fresh, inspections often show that they are not. A recent check in a school in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, found children receiving eggs weighing only 31 grams—well below international standards.

The quality issue is widespread across brands and stores, including high-end organic shops. Quick-commerce platforms make it easier for low-quality products to reach customers because popularity is often built on marketing rather than consistent product quality. Many brands initially sell high-quality eggs, gain ratings and popularity, and then reduce quality while keeping prices high.

This trend is similar to other problems in India’s food industry, such as synthetic paneer, adulterated ghee, and low-quality oils. The “make it until you can fake it” approach seems common, where businesses use initial quality to build trust but later compromise standards to save costs or maximize profit.

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The consumer’s challenge

For Indian consumers, this means paying more for eggs that may be smaller, inconsistent, or less fresh than advertised. Shoppers who rely on quick-commerce apps often expect premium products for higher prices, but the reality is usually disappointing. Unlike in the US or Europe, where food standards are fixed and enforced, India has no uniform system to ensure egg quality.

Consumers are left navigating a confusing market filled with extravagant claims, inconsistent quality, and inflated prices. Marketing often focuses on hen diets, egg colors, or added vitamins, rather than the basic requirements: size, freshness, and nutritional content. In a market hungry for quality, it is easy for brands to take advantage of consumer trust.

Why regulation is important

The egg industry highlights a larger problem in India’s food and beverage sector: poor regulation and lack of accountability. Without strict enforcement of standards, brands can exploit gaps to reduce costs and increase profits at the expense of consumers. Quality control should be the foundation of trust between producers and buyers, but in India, marketing often outweighs substance.

Better regulations, standardized grading for eggs, and regular inspections are necessary to protect consumers. Platforms like quick-commerce apps must also take responsibility for the quality of products they sell. Transparency about egg size, weight, freshness, and nutritional value is critical. Otherwise, consumers will continue to face a market full of misleading claims and inconsistent products.

India’s egg problem is a reflection of a broader challenge in the country’s food industry. From inconsistent sizes and freshness to exaggerated marketing claims, the quality of eggs rarely meets expectations. Quick-commerce apps have made these problems more visible because they deliver a wide variety of products directly to consumers, often at high prices.

To fix this, India needs stronger regulations, standardized egg grading, and accountability for producers and sellers. Consumers deserve eggs that are fresh, consistent, and nutritious—not just fancy packaging and marketing stories. Until this happens, the egg industry will remain a circus of appearances rather than a source of real, reliable nutrition.