PENANG buzzed with outrage, excitement and grudging admiration as news of “fake eggs” being sold in Pulau Tikus exploded on the island.

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) alleged that a housewife had purchased eggs that turned out to be fake, discovering the duplicity when she tried to cook them. “She told us that the eggs did not smell like real eggs and were tasteless," said CAP president S M Mohamed Idris. “It was also of unusual shapes and larger than real eggs. The fake egg also had a rougher surface than the genuine one. When cracked, there was no sign of chalaza, the structure inside the egg that keeps the yolk in place. The fake egg white and yolk quickly mixed together, unlike that of real eggs.” Read here.

The Penang Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry reacted quickly, seizing 270 eggs from three stalls in the Pulau Tikus market the following morning. Read here.

Various egg sellers also moved quickly, insisting that they were not responsible for any fakes. “We are sure the fake eggs are not from our stall,” said egg seller Lim Beng Poh. Some people who sampled the fake eggs reported that the fakes had no odour when boiled, and were tasteless. Read here.

Some suppliers have cast doubts on the existence of the fake eggs. “Why do we need fake eggs?" said Tan, a major egg supplier. “Supply is not a problem and the profit is not much.” Read here.

The eggs have been sent for testing to the Chemistry Department, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. “This will determine whether they are real or fake once and for all.” Read here. 

Liow added that those caught selling fake eggs will be stiffly penalised under the Food Act 1983 and Rule 171 (1) of Food Regulation 1985. “If it is fake, we will take action against those responsible,” he said. Read here.

News of the fake eggs have captured the imagination of various Penangites, inspiring some to use them as a guide to buying the right lottery number. Punters reference chifa books, with “959” usually associated with eggs, then juggling the numbers around. “Since it has to be a four-digit, we were thinking of adding a 'zero in front of 959 as zero' resembles the shape of an egg,” said a hawker. Read here.

Other news

• RM9.3mil resort for federal VIPs ready in June: Federal senior civil servants visiting Penang can soon stay at the RM9.3mil ‘resort’ under construction at the corner of Brown Road and Jalan D S Ramanathan. Read here.
• Phase 1 of Batu Kawan park’s infrastructure to be completed in 2012: The infrastructure works for the first phase of the a new industrial park in Batu Kawan will be completed next year. Read here.
• Fishermen saved: Four Indonesian fishermen, who were adrift in the Straits of Malacca for five days after their vessel's engine broke down, have been rescued. Read here.
• Loosening purse strings for quake victims: Thousands of Penangites opened their hearts and wallets to help the victims of Japan's March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster recently. Read here.
• Final farewell: Do you ever wonder about the rituals that take place during a funeral? Read here.

For more news on Penang, please click through to iGT NetBuzz April 4 to 10, 2011 here. For daily updates, "like" iGeorgeTown on Facebook or join us on Twitter.    

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