PETALING JAYA: Amid the rising prices of basic foodstuff, cases of lower grade fresh eggs being sold as premium ones have emerged.
While the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had only received two official reports between 2021 and June 2022, the issue is believed to be more widespread.
Home baker Maisarah Rahman, 34, brought home three cartons of grade AA eggs recently but was appalled when she weighed them.
They weighed only 55g each but to be considered grade AA, which is the highest quality of eggs available, an egg must weigh 70g and above.
“I don’t always weigh the eggs but I was suspicious because they looked smaller than usual.
“I was very surprised that they were all actually grade C eggs,” said Maisarah.
According to the ministry, there are six grades of eggs in Malaysia, with grade AA being the highest and grade E the lowest.
The weight for each grade AA chicken egg is 70g and above, grade A (65g to 69.9g), grade B (60g to 64.9g), grade C (55g to 55.99g), grade D (50g to 54.9g) and grade E (less than 50g).
Maisarah ended up complaining to the sundry store where she bought the eggs from.
But the owner said the eggs came from the supplier.
“I was really annoyed but I didn’t pursue it.
“From that day onwards, I decided I will only buy eggs from the supermarket because it’s less likely they will be tampered with or that suppliers will cheat,” she added.
Another home baker, Farah Liana Haron, 29, said she had been cheated many times before.
“The sellers are smart because they will mix different egg grades in one tray.
“I once bought a tray of eggs that were supposed to be grade A but when I weighed a few of them randomly, they all had different weights, meaning I was also given grade C and D eggs.
“As bakers, the quality of eggs is very important because it affects the quality of our products,” said Farah Liana.
Recently, a home baker known as Jejaka Brownie lodged a complaint with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
“The eggs purchased were supposed to be grade A but once weighed, the eggs were actually grade C mixed with grade B eggs.
“This is the third time, so there is no reason for grading mistakes,” he said in his post on Facebook on June 9.
His complaint on the grading of eggs was the only report received by the ministry for this year, said the ministry’s enforcement director, Azman Adam.
“Last year, the ministry received only one complaint regarding the grade classification of chicken eggs, while in 2022, up to June 19, there was also only one complaint,” he said.
The complaint received in 2021 was in Melaka while the one received this year was in Kudat, Sabah.
Azman said the supplier in the Melaka case was fined RM15,000 by the Ayer Keroh Sessions Court.
For the case in Kudat, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi visited the shop selling the eggs on June 11.
The eggs of different grades sold at the store were weighed and were all within the predetermined weight range.
Nanta, in a social media post on June 11, said the shop owner was warned to ensure the eggs bought from the supplier were according to grades.
Nanta also advised the owner to conduct random checks on the egg grades.
Azman said the ministry conducts regular inspections nationwide daily, including on the issue of egg grades.
“Consumers with doubts can file complaints with the ministry,” he said.