During a recent raid on a wholesale centre in Guangzhou city, the capital of China 's Guangdong province, a large quantity of fake eggs was seized.
Their wholesale price is 0.15 yuan (S$0.03) each - half the price of a real egg.
Consumers have a hard time telling a genuine egg from a fake one. This is good news for unscrupulous entrepreneurs, who are even conducting three-day courses in the production of artificial eggs for less than S$150. A reporter with Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine East Week enrolled in one such course.
To create egg white, the instructor - a woman in her 20s - used assorted ingredients such as gelatin, an unknown powder, benzoic acid, coagulating material and even alum, which is normally used for industrial processes.
For egg yolk, some lemon-yellow colouring powder is mixed to a liquid and the concoction stirred. The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called 'magic water', which contains calcium chloride.
This gives the 'yolk' a thin outer membrane, firming it up. The egg is then shaped with a mould. The shell is not forgotten. Paraffin wax and an unidentified white liquid are poured onto the fake egg, which is then left to dry.
The artificial egg can be fried sunny-side up or steamed. Although bubbles appear on the white of the egg, those who have tasted it say the fake stuff tastes very much like the real thing.
But experts warn of the danger of eating fake eggs. Not only do they not contain any nutrients, a Hong Kong Chinese University professor warned that long-term consumption of alum could cause dementia.
Their wholesale price is 0.15 yuan (S$0.03) each - half the price of a real egg.
Consumers have a hard time telling a genuine egg from a fake one. This is good news for unscrupulous entrepreneurs, who are even conducting three-day courses in the production of artificial eggs for less than S$150. A reporter with Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine East Week enrolled in one such course.
To create egg white, the instructor - a woman in her 20s - used assorted ingredients such as gelatin, an unknown powder, benzoic acid, coagulating material and even alum, which is normally used for industrial processes.
For egg yolk, some lemon-yellow colouring powder is mixed to a liquid and the concoction stirred. The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called 'magic water', which contains calcium chloride.
This gives the 'yolk' a thin outer membrane, firming it up. The egg is then shaped with a mould. The shell is not forgotten. Paraffin wax and an unidentified white liquid are poured onto the fake egg, which is then left to dry.
The artificial egg can be fried sunny-side up or steamed. Although bubbles appear on the white of the egg, those who have tasted it say the fake stuff tastes very much like the real thing.
But experts warn of the danger of eating fake eggs. Not only do they not contain any nutrients, a Hong Kong Chinese University professor warned that long-term consumption of alum could cause dementia.
STEPS OF MAKING FAKE EGGS
The production of raw materials
1. Mainly are sodium alginate aqueous solution of calcium chloride and other chemical materials
Let’s calculate: 1kg of real egg worth about 6.5 Yuan. 1kg of sodium alginate only cost about 42 Yuan can make 150kg of fake eggs, plus other costs, 1kg of fake egg only cost about 0.55 Yuan to make.
2. Use sodium alginate which has been soaked in aqueous, adjusting the concentration, stirring evenly. Soon it will look slightly white and transparent, and should have the same viscosity as the real egg white. This is the main part of the “egg”. Separate part of this liquid and add a small amount of lemon yellow food coloring, adjust the color depth to look like the color of egg yolk. This is now the prototype of the “egg yolk”.
3. Then, pure the liquid into egg yolk shaped container, and promptly add calcium chloride dissolved in water. The outside of “Egg yolk” rapidly solidify and form a layer of transparent material. After one minute, “egg yolk” is formed
4. Put solidified artificial egg yolk into artificial egg white, the egg’s basic “content” is done.
Finally put “egg yolk” and “egg white” into “egg shell” made of calcium carbonate. After seal the opening, an “egg” produced by raw material and chemicals is done. The entire production is less than 5 minutes, which is much more efficient than waiting for a hen to lay an egg.
5. Pour “egg yolk liquid” into the mold about 2/3 full, and put it into calcium chloride water. Shake it slightly so that egg yolk appears to have a thin layer of membrane. Soak the “egg yolk” in calcium chloride water for one hour, then wash it and dry it for later use.
6. Pour “egg white liquid” into the mold about 1/3 full, then put in the “egg yolk”, and add some more “egg white”. Put this into calcium chloride water again and shake it slightly. A whole egg without the shell will start to appear. Then let the “naked egg” harden for an hour, then wash it and dry it.
7. Put a sewing line through the “egg” and use it to dip the egg into liquid made of beeswax and calcium carbonate. Immerse and repeat several times, until a dry shell is formed then immerse it in cold water and pull the sewing line out. Now you put an “egg shell” coat on the “fake egg” and you are done.
PLEASE, BE AWARE.
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