Uddhav Thackeray 'very positive': Raut on Shiv Sena (UBT)-MNS patch-up
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said his party chief Uddhav Thackeray is "very positive" about rapprochement with estranged cousin and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray.
Talking to reporters here, Raut claimed after the reunion buzz even people and parties associated with the Ambedkarite movement are in touch with him and have shown interest to be a part of the new political alignment that is taking shape.
The Rajya Sabha MP recalled chief Constitution framer B R Ambedkar had also taken lead in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and made efforts for unity of 'Marathi manoos' (Marathi-speaking people).
The movement launched in the 1950s advocated for a separate state of Maharashtra consisting of Marathi-speaking population.
"There is no need for anyone to be in the discussion between the two (Uddhav and Raj). I know the feelings they have towards each other and also the family. Relations don't get severed because of politics. Uddhav is very positive (on rapprochement with Raj). His stand is very positive for the betterment of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos," Raut insisted.
Cousins and political rivals Uddhav and Raj Thackeray have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands in the larger interest of native Marathi speakers, nearly two decades after a bitter split.
While the MNS chief has maintained uniting in the interest of Marathi manoos was not difficult, former CM Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided that those working against Maharashtra's interests were not entertained.
Raj Thackeray walked out of the united Shiv Sena in 2005 and floated his own party the next year. In the past, the MNS president has opposed and also supported the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a former ally of Uddhav Thackeray, on different occasions.
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Eggs safe for consumption, cancer risk claims unfounded: FSSAI
New Delhi (PTI): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent claims linking eggs to cancer risk, terming them "misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm".
In a statement issued on Saturday, the food safety regulator clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis.
The clarification comes in response to media reports and social media posts claiming detection of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ) -- substances purportedly linked to cancer -- in eggs sold in India.
FSSAI officials emphasised that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
The regulator explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites -- but solely for regulatory enforcement purposes. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.
"Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk," an FSSAI official said.
FSSAI said India's regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. The European Union and the United States also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools.
Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, the authority noted.
On public health concerns, FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that there is no established causal link between trace-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humans.
"No national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk," the regulator reiterated.
Addressing reports related to the testing of a specific egg brand, officials explained that such detections are isolated and batch-specific, often arising from inadvertent contamination or feed-related factors, and are not representative of the overall egg supply chain in the country.
"Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect," the statement said.
FSSAI urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories, reiterating that eggs remain a safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.
