With egg imports rising since the start of the year, there are concerns that an influx of eggs produced to lower food safety standards than the British Lion could see an increase in the type of food safety outbreaks that have been regularly seen across Europe.
With reports that eggs from Poland and the Ukraine are entering the market in large quantities, the BEIC says alarm bells are ringing across the industry, particularly as a major salmonella outbreak in the UK was linked to imported Polish eggs last year.
The BEIC are calling on all food businesses to check the eggs they’re sourcing, particularly if they are serving vulnerable groups, such as babies, young children, pregnant women and older people, to ensure that they meet British Lion standards. British Lion eggs are approved by the Food Standards Agency to be eaten runny by all, while imported eggs are not.
Nick Allen, chief executive of the BEIC, said: “We’re seeing a worrying rise in imported eggs entering the UK, many from countries where food safety issues have arisen. These eggs don’t get close to matching the safety standards of British Lion eggs.
“Last year, eggs from Poland were directly linked to Salmonella cases here in the UK, and there are ongoing serious issues in Europe involving eggs from Ukraine and elsewhere. If you're serving vulnerable customers — from care home residents to pregnant women and young children — it is never a good time to take risks with food safety, but the risks are even higher at present.
“The advice from the Food Standards Agency is very clear, British Lion eggs are approved to be served runny to these groups. Imported eggs are not. We are urging food businesses to check their egg sourcing very carefully. Their reputation, and more importantly, their customers’ health, could depend on it.”
The BEIC recommends that food businesses:
- Specify British Lion eggs and egg products in supply contracts
- Check labelling and provenance when sourcing eggs, including processed or liquid formats
- Avoid imported eggs for dishes served runny or lightly cooked