While some politically motivated trolls are flooding social media with ‘demands’ to  boycott of Chinese products grow during the festive season, a new rumour has put the  locals of the southern Indian State of Kerala  in a flurry. Some swear they are finding very unusual goods in their kitchen.

There is a noise from Kerala that some supermarkets are selling eggs which are “artificial” and made of plastic. Unlike normal eggs, these reportedly ‘artificial eggs’ do not go bad  when left in the open after cracking them, and do not go bad if left uneaten after cooking. People claimed that such artificial eggs are from China.

After protests, the Kerala government ordered a probe to find out the truth behind the alleged artificial eggs. K.K. Shylaja, Kerala Health Minister, said, “I will ask the Food Safety Commissioner to seriously look into these media reports that such a product is available. It would be nice if someone comes up and provides a sample of it so the tests can be conducted quickly.”

Since last fortnight, people registered their protest in front of supermarkets. Consumers forced shopkeepers to crack eggs in front of them.

According to reports, Idukki district of Kerala bordering Tamil Nadu is where this product is available. Idukki district Medical Officer Rekha also told the media that in the wake of reports on the eggs, she too will probe the matter.

‘Artificial eggs,’ reports say, unlike normal eggs are brown in colour and if kept in the open after cracking them, flies and other insects are not attracted to them. The eggs do not spoil or rot even after cooking or leaving them out in the open, according to reports. These are unverified claims. The cost of production is very less compared to original poultry maintenance costs.

  eggs, Kerala, naked greed, superstition