Aldi--a discount supermarket chain with over 10,000 stores in 18 countries--has stopped selling eggs at more than 4,000 stores in Germany. The reason? Some eggs were found to be contaminated with insecticides.

In Belgium and the Netherlands last month, insecticide fipronil were found in some eggs. This led to the temporary closure of some poultry farms, along with retailers stopping the sale of eggs. Fipronil is believed to be a toxic health hazard, according to the World Health Organization.

The insecticide may have contaminated the eggs by way of Dega 16, a detergent that cleans farms and barns. Reportedly only certain eggs--identified by certain serial numbers--have been affected by the insecticide. Still, Aldi chose to stop the sale of all eggs--regardless of their origin--as a safety precaution. Roughly 180 poultry companies in the Netherlands have been affected by either shutting down operations or having to destroy their flocks.

Criminal investigations pinpointing the use of Dega 16 are currently underway in both Belgium and the Netherlands.

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