The British Egg Industry Council has raised concerns over the rising number of imported eggs being used by foodservice businesses.
With egg imports rising significantly 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.
Eggs from Poland and the Ukraine are entering the market in large quantities. The BEIC said alarm bells were ringing across the industry, particularly as a major salmonella outbreak in the UK was linked to imported Polish eggs last year.
Nick Allen, chief executive, British Egg Industry Council, 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.”