BEIC Questions FSA Advice on Runny Eggs Amid Salmonella Outbreak

The British Egg Industry Council, BEIC, has questioned advice from the Food Standards Agency, FSA, urging vulnerable people to avoid runny eggs amid a national Salmonella outbreak potentially linked to imported eggs.

The FSA has advised children under five, people over 65, pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions to ensure eggs served in restaurants, cafés and takeaways are thoroughly cooked.

The agency says there is no evidence that UK-produced eggs are affected by the outbreak. However, the BEIC says this point has not been made clearly enough.

The council says imported eggs are again under scrutiny and has repeated concerns about the safety standards applied to imported eggs.

BEIC Chief Executive Nick Allen said British Lion producers have invested in food safety measures, including mandatory Salmonella vaccination, traceability and independent auditing.

The UK Health Security Agency says 207 cases had been confirmed as of August 13, with one death. Investigations have linked cases to food businesses supplied by several egg sources, including importers.