SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — The European Union’s recent acknowledgement that large-scale shipments of eggs from Belgium and the Netherlands may have been contaminated by a pesticide has stores and markets rethinking the sales value of Belgian waffles.

The pesticide, Fipronil, is believed to be hazardous to humans. So far, Germany, England, Sweden, Switzerland are believed to have imported the “pesticide eggs”.

The glaring omission among the list of countries suspected of taking in the contaminated eggs has done little to ease the fears of overcautious domestic businesses.

On August 9, convenience store chain CU abruptly halted sales of its Belgium-based “Lotus” brand products. Industry competitor GS25 followed suit on August 10, halting all sales and putting a hold on all new orders.

Waffles, a snack originating from Belgium, cannot be made without eggs.

Going against the grain, both convenience store chains Ministop and Seven Eleven have opted to continue sales while keeping an eye on the situation.

The line on whether to continue to sell or place a hold on “Lotus” products has also been drawn among major retail chains, with E-Mart crossing over to join CU and GS25, while Home Plus is staying put for now.

The “Pesticide Eggs” issue and its subsequent fallout is another blow to the domestic market, which has already seen poultry farmers struggle from massive chicken fatalities caused by avian influenza and deadly heat waves this summer.

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)