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UK eggs declared safe 30 years after salmonella scare | UK eggs declared safe 30 years after salmonella scare |
(about 11 hours later) | |
"Lion mark" eggs have been declared safe for pregnant women and young children, nearly 30 years after a salmonella scare. | "Lion mark" eggs have been declared safe for pregnant women and young children, nearly 30 years after a salmonella scare. |
Vulnerable groups had been advised not to eat raw, soft boiled or runny eggs. | Vulnerable groups had been advised not to eat raw, soft boiled or runny eggs. |
The Food Standards Agency says "Lion Mark" eggs, which include almost all of the eggs produced in the UK, are virtually free of salmonella. | |
The new advice comes after a vaccination programme, and improvements to animal welfare. | The new advice comes after a vaccination programme, and improvements to animal welfare. |
In 1988, a scare over the presence of salmonella in eggs caused a dramatic collapse in sales of eggs and a series of warnings for vulnerable groups to avoid eating them if they were raw or runny. | In 1988, a scare over the presence of salmonella in eggs caused a dramatic collapse in sales of eggs and a series of warnings for vulnerable groups to avoid eating them if they were raw or runny. |
The then junior Conservative health minister, Edwina Currie, declared: "Most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now affected with salmonella." | The then junior Conservative health minister, Edwina Currie, declared: "Most of the egg production in this country, sadly, is now affected with salmonella." |
Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning. | Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning. |
Mrs Currie's statement wildly overstated the danger and eventually led to her resignation. | Mrs Currie's statement wildly overstated the danger and eventually led to her resignation. |
But there was a problem with salmonella in eggs and by the 1990s producers started a vaccination programme. | But there was a problem with salmonella in eggs and by the 1990s producers started a vaccination programme. |
Lion Mark | Lion Mark |
The "British Lion Mark", printed on eggs in red ink, was introduced so that eggs could be traced back to the farm of origin and to show best-before dates. | The "British Lion Mark", printed on eggs in red ink, was introduced so that eggs could be traced back to the farm of origin and to show best-before dates. |
Almost 30 years on from the initial scare, the Food Standards Agency's Heather Hancock, says runny eggs can now be eaten by everyone. | Almost 30 years on from the initial scare, the Food Standards Agency's Heather Hancock, says runny eggs can now be eaten by everyone. |
"We are now saying if there is a British Lion egg, you're safe to do that. | "We are now saying if there is a British Lion egg, you're safe to do that. |
"The risk of salmonella is now so low you needn't worry. | "The risk of salmonella is now so low you needn't worry. |
"And that's true whether you're a fit healthy adult, or whether you're pregnant or elderly or young. | "And that's true whether you're a fit healthy adult, or whether you're pregnant or elderly or young. |
"It's only people on strictly medically supervised diets who need to avoid those eggs." | "It's only people on strictly medically supervised diets who need to avoid those eggs." |
Growing appetite for eggs | Growing appetite for eggs |
The British appetite for eggs has been growing in recent years. | The British appetite for eggs has been growing in recent years. |
Last year British hens laid 10,372 million eggs, while on average we consume more than 34.5 million eggs every day. | Last year British hens laid 10,372 million eggs, while on average we consume more than 34.5 million eggs every day. |
And eggs are very good for you, packed full of vitamin D, protein and valuable omega-3 fatty acids. | And eggs are very good for you, packed full of vitamin D, protein and valuable omega-3 fatty acids. |
Mother of two Catherine Millington is a big fan, with eggs providing quick, cheap and nutritious meals for her two daughters, who are aged nearly 4 years old and 7 months. | Mother of two Catherine Millington is a big fan, with eggs providing quick, cheap and nutritious meals for her two daughters, who are aged nearly 4 years old and 7 months. |
"Eggs are brilliant because you can boil them, break them into bits, and the baby can handle them so we can do baby-led weaning with it. | "Eggs are brilliant because you can boil them, break them into bits, and the baby can handle them so we can do baby-led weaning with it. |
"And when you're in a rush, they're dead easy." | "And when you're in a rush, they're dead easy." |
Food safety | Food safety |
Just outside Penrith on the edge of the Lake District is The Lakes Free Range Egg Company. | Just outside Penrith on the edge of the Lake District is The Lakes Free Range Egg Company. |
Egg farmer David Brass says the introduction of the British Lion standard has made all the difference. | Egg farmer David Brass says the introduction of the British Lion standard has made all the difference. |
"We know from back in the '80s when all the scare started, there was an issue with eggs. | "We know from back in the '80s when all the scare started, there was an issue with eggs. |
"But what the Lion standard does, it is a fully independent, audited code of practice to make sure we have standards on the farm that make sure we can't have any of those disease problems again. | "But what the Lion standard does, it is a fully independent, audited code of practice to make sure we have standards on the farm that make sure we can't have any of those disease problems again. |
"And it has shown time after time, in those intervening years, that it is just a brilliant food safety code." | "And it has shown time after time, in those intervening years, that it is just a brilliant food safety code." |
Over the summer, millions of eggs were pulled from supermarket shelves in more than a dozen European countries - including the UK - after it was discovered some had been contaminated with a potentially harmful insecticide at Dutch farms. | Over the summer, millions of eggs were pulled from supermarket shelves in more than a dozen European countries - including the UK - after it was discovered some had been contaminated with a potentially harmful insecticide at Dutch farms. |
British eggs were not affected. | British eggs were not affected. |
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