Poultry from Germany was found contaminated with traces of the insecticide fipronil, Poland's veterinary inspectorate has said, amid a health scare in several European countries.

Up to 5,000 contaminated or potentially contaminated birds arrived in Poland last week.

Some of it made it to retail outlets in Poland's north, but the rest was confiscated in central and northern Poland last week.

Poland's authorities on Monday announced it was contaminated and that the confiscated poultry would be destroyed.

Fipronil is used to treat fleas and ticks in pets as well as in crop protection, but Brussels has banned its use in animal farming. It is harmful to people in high doses, especially to the kidneys and liver.

Potentially-contaminated eggs from western Europe were recently found in Poland before reaching customers amid a health scare in several European Union countries. (vb)

Source: IAR