TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration on Saturday ordered an emergency recall of 150,000 white-shelled eggs from Changhua County after tests found the pesticide residue fipronil three times higher than the legal limit, per UDN.

The eggs, distributed under 13 different brands to retailers including PX Mart and Fun Come Fresh Supermarket (楓康), were shipped to 10 counties and cities. Consumers are urged to check for the traceability code I47045, printed directly on the eggs.

Changhua County’s Health Bureau said not all eggs in the batch are contaminated, but the entire shipment was pulled from shelves as a precaution while further testing continues. The recall marks the first time Taiwan has publicly used a product traceability code to identify problematic eggs.

FDA official Lin Hsu-yang  (林旭陽) said Taiwan’s monitoring program for drug and pesticide residues in poultry, livestock, and aquatic products works with local health bureaus to ensure eggs meet safety standards.

A Nov. 4 sampling test by the Changhua County Health Bureau found washed white-shelled eggs from Wenya Livestock Farm  (文雅畜牧場) in Pitou Township contained 0.03 ppm of fipronil, three times the permitted level.

Fipronil is often used to prevent agricultural products from infestation by pests such as termites and fire ants, though it is banned in animal feed. Officials said possible environmental cross-contamination may have occurred because the farm also raises livestock.

The eggs suspected of being tainted carry an expiration date of Nov. 27. Changhua County officials have ordered Wenya Livestock Farm to provide complete sales records for the batch.

PX Mart said it immediately removed related products upon notification. Customers may return affected eggs to the store where they were purchased with a receipt.