Shoppers buying eggs in UK supermarkets told watch for tiny mark to avoid salmonella

Shoppers buying eggs in UK supermarkets told watch for tiny mark to avoid salmonella Most eggs in supermarkets across the UK are now fine for everyone to eat including pregnant women, babies and older people People are being urged to make a check before buying eggs, as a tiny mark can show they are safe to eat. For years, those who were vulnerable, including pregnant women, babies and older people, were advised not to eat lightly cooked or raw eggs as a result of a risk of salmonella poisoning. However, those rules, which had been in place since a major salmonella scare in the 1980s, were updated a decade ago after a massive reduction in the number of cases of the infection. This followed the introduction of the British Egg Industry Council’s Lion Code of Practice, which the government has said is responsible for a subsequent dramatic fall in human cases of salmonella. According to the Food Standards Agency, the risk of anyone contracting salmonella from eggs produced under the scheme is extremely low, as those eggs are virtually free from the infection. More than 90% of British eggs are now produced within the British Lion scheme, which requires producers to follow a stringent Code of Practice, including vaccinating their hens against salmonella, increased hygiene controls and salmonella testing, stamping a best-before date on the egg shell as well as on the box, and independent auditing. In November 2013, former Health Minister Edwina Currie, whose comments fuelled the salmonella scare, described British Lion eggs as the safest in the world. However, it is important to be aware that only eggs produced under the British Lion scheme are included among those deemed suitable for vulnerable people to eat. This means it is vital to know which eggs are produced by farmers using the strict food safety scheme. There is an easy way to tell which are covered - and it is shown in a tiny mark on the eggs. How can I tell which eggs are covered? All eggs that have been produced under the stringent requirements of the British Lion Code of Practice are stamped with the British Lion mark - a red image of a lion. It also includes additional information next to the lion image. In addition to the Lion Mark, all Class A eggs also have to be marked with a code which consists of: - a number showing the type of farming system - 0 is organic; 1 free range; 2 barn; 3 cage - country of origin, such as the UK - farm production unit - a code denoting the farm where the eggs were produced - best Before Date So if it reads 3UK54321, then BB 15 Apr, this means it is a caged egg, produced in the UK, at a farm which has an identity number of 54321 and is best before April 15. Where can I get British Lion eggs? Egg info says: "British Lion eggs are widely available from all major retailers, as well as reputable independent traders. Stockists include Aldi, Asda, Co-op, Iceland, Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose. "For foodservice businesses looking to source British Lion eggs, they are widely available from major delivered wholesalers, as well as many smaller regional traders, and cash and carries."