Why Tamil Nadu has banned raw egg mayonnaise for one year

Tamil Nadu government has imposed a ban on the sale, manufacture, and storage of mayonnaise made with raw eggs for a period of one year. The ban, which has been imposed under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, will kick in from May 8.

Raw Egg Mayonnaise Banned

Announcing the ban, the Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration, Tamil Nadu said, "Mayonnaise made of raw eggs is a high risk food as it carries a food poisoning risk especially from Salmonella bacteria- Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli and Listeria Monocytogenes."

Public health risk

The order also noted, “Number of food business operators use raw egg for preparation of mayonnaise. Improper preparation and storage facilitates contamination by micro-organisms which creates public health risk particularly by Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.”

Mayonnaise ban for a year

The order goes on to say, “Under the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 (Central Act 34 of 2006), the Commissioner of Food Safety of the State of Tamil Nadu, in the interest of public health hereby prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution or sale of Mayonnaise prepared from raw egg in the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu for a period of one year with effect from 08.04.2025.”

Similar action in Telangana, Kerala

The ban in Tamil Nadu follows a similar ban in neighbouring states of Kerala and Telangana. In November 2024, Telangana banned raw-egg mayonnaise, for a period of one year. In Kerala, raw egg mayonnaise was banned in 2023, after the death of a 16-year-old in Kasargod due to food poisoning in 2022. Further, at least 58 people who had eaten at the same restaurant, had fallen ill at the time.