The UK Health Security Agency has announced an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis in the UK linked to imported eggs.
The exact cause has not yet been identified, however investigations have identified links to eggs imported from outside the UK, mainly used by the foodservice sector and catering establishments such as restaurants or cafes, as a potential source.
There is no evidence that UK-produced eggs or poultry are affected. The Food Standards Agency has issued information on the safe handling of eggs. It includes advice for those in vulnerable groups, such as infants, young children, pregnant people and the elderly, who should only eat runny or raw eggs that have a British Lion mark or are produced under the Laid in Britain egg assurance scheme.
“Food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK is still being allowed into our market. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.”
NFU Poultry Board Chair Will Raw
Undermining British production standards
NFU Poultry Board Chair Will Raw said it was “hugely concerning that eggs from abroad are being linked to a serious outbreak of Salmonella in the UK”, stressing that imports of eggs that are illegal to produce in the UK threaten the high standards and reputation that British egg producers have built over decades.
“This undermines the excellent work British egg producers have undertaken over decades, adhering to the highest standards, abiding by rigorous testing and building a world-leading reputation,” he said.
“Food produced to standards that would be illegal in the UK is still being allowed into our market. This simply cannot be allowed to continue.
“Government must ensure at a minimum that adequate checks are being conducted on imports to ensure all food coming into the country is safe and introduce a robust system of core production standards that applies equally to domestic and imported food.”
Sourcing British vital to maintain public confidence
As of 13 August, 207 confirmed cases linked to this outbreak have been reported across the UK. This includes 199 cases in England, 6 in Scotland, 1 in Wales and 1 in Northern Ireland.
As reported on GOV.UK, 24 cases of Salmonella Enteritidis have been linked to five food businesses that source eggs from multiple sources, including imported eggs.
“Government must ensure at a minimum that adequate checks are being conducted on imports to ensure all food coming into the country is safe and introduce a robust system of core production standards that applies equally to domestic and imported food.”
Will Raw
Will added: “This outbreak of Salmonella underlines exactly why sourcing British matters.
“The UK retail sector leads the way on sourcing British shell eggs and the NFU continues to work closely with the foodservice sector including pubs, restaurants and cafes, to provide their customers with confidence that the food they are eating is safe.
“Our message to the public is clear. When shopping, look out for the British Lion or Laid in Britain logos which provide the confidence, even for those vulnerable people, that the eggs are fully traceable back to the farm where they were laid and come from hens vaccinated against Salmonella, meaning these eggs are safe to eat runny or raw.”
Robust testing regime required
Salmonella requirements are mandatory for all imports into the UK. This latest outbreak clearly demonstrates that something, somewhere, is going wrong. The government must address these issues to ensure that exporting countries are complying with the same high standards that UK producers adhere to.
The NFU is urging the government to implement a more robust testing regime for eggs entering the UK and take appropriate and prompt action when eggs from sources that test positive for salmonella are identified in domestic markets.
