Poisonous dioxins higher in backyard chickens

This was the conclusion drawn from a national research study by scientists from the universities of Antwerp, Ghent and Liège.

Those who eat the eggs from their own backyard chickens are at greater risk of developing health problems compared to those who eat eggs from chickens reared in battery or free-range housing systems. These were the findings of national research done by the Scientific Institute for National Health (‘Wetenschappelijk Instituut van Volksgezondheid’), according to the newspaper.

Researchers from the universities of Antwerp, Ghent and Liège, together with researchers from the Centre of Research in Animal Health and Agro-chemistry (Centrum voor Onderzoek in Diergeneeskunde en Agrochemie) analysed hundreds of samples taken from chicken owners throughout Belgium.

The eggs from backyard poultry contained 3-5 times more dioxins than the allowed European level. Additionally, the eggs contained very high levels of lead, as well as the dangerous insecticide DDT, which has been banned for several years.