President Lee Jae-myung called for a stern response to the spread of false information regarding eggs recently imported from Brazil.

During a closed-door Cabinet meeting he presided over at Cheong Wa Dae that day, President Lee asked Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung, "How are we responding to the spread of false information about imported Brazilian eggs?" according to a written briefing by Cheong Wa Dae Chief Spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

President Lee emphasized, "We must sternly demonstrate that agitation based on false facts is neither influence nor competence."

Earlier, some media outlets reported that the government had imported a tray of eggs from Brazil for 39,000 won and sold them domestically in the 4,000-won range.

Following the reports, criticism arose online calling it a "waste of taxpayers' money," and some even claimed a "left-wing connection," citing relations with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

In response, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that it pursued imports from Brazil to diversify import channels in preparation for egg supply instability caused by outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and that Brazilian eggs accounted for only 0.8% of total egg imports as a pilot introduction through the end of September this year.

(Photo: Yonhap News)