<p>Eggs that have hard yolks and can bounce like rubber after being boiled have appeared on the market in several regions across China, leading a food safety watchdog in Shanghai to launch a probe, officials said Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The investigation was launched after some consumers said they bought the "artificial" eggs made by traders seeking profits, the China Daily said.<br /><br />But food experts said the eggs were likely to be natural. Their unusual characteristics could be explained by high levels of a compound called gossypol.<br /><br />When egg-laying hens eat gossypol-enriched feed, it binds to the protein in egg yolks.<br />Gossypol normally exists in the residue of cotton seeds added to chicken feed as an extra protein source.<br /><br />Experts say large doses of the compound suppress sperm activity. Gossypol has been used in male contraceptive pills in a couple of countries.</p>
<p>Eggs that have hard yolks and can bounce like rubber after being boiled have appeared on the market in several regions across China, leading a food safety watchdog in Shanghai to launch a probe, officials said Friday.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The investigation was launched after some consumers said they bought the "artificial" eggs made by traders seeking profits, the China Daily said.<br /><br />But food experts said the eggs were likely to be natural. Their unusual characteristics could be explained by high levels of a compound called gossypol.<br /><br />When egg-laying hens eat gossypol-enriched feed, it binds to the protein in egg yolks.<br />Gossypol normally exists in the residue of cotton seeds added to chicken feed as an extra protein source.<br /><br />Experts say large doses of the compound suppress sperm activity. Gossypol has been used in male contraceptive pills in a couple of countries.</p>
