The British Egg Industry Council (BEIC) has slammed the UK Government and the European Commission for not taking quicker action against Spanish eggs, which have caused several outbreaks of salmonella in the UK over the past two years.
The Times reported today that Spanish salmonella-ridden eggs have been linked to 15 deaths and 6,000 cases of food poisoning in Britain. It also noted that health chiefs have only just issued an alert, “urging that babies, young children, the sick and the elderly should not eat eggs from Spain.”
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Food Standards Agency have announced they are stepping up action to protect the public’s health following the recent outbreaks.
The BEIC reiterated its advice that consumers and also caterers should look for the British Lion mark to find safe eggs to eat, but it criticised the UK Government for taking so long.
Andre Parker, chairman of the BEIC said: “It is ridiculous that two years after the problem with Spanish eggs first became apparent no action has been taken. It is now time for the UK Government to ban Spanish eggs.”
“Since the introduction of the British Lion programme in 1998, we have seen cases of salmonella in humans plummet in the UK. This situation is now being threatened by the continued use of cheap Spanish eggs by some caterers.”
Last week’s Grocer magazine reported that Edwina Currie is set to launch British Egg Week sixteen years after she almost killed off the British egg industry with a salmonella scare.
The Times reported today that Spanish salmonella-ridden eggs have been linked to 15 deaths and 6,000 cases of food poisoning in Britain. It also noted that health chiefs have only just issued an alert, “urging that babies, young children, the sick and the elderly should not eat eggs from Spain.”
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) and the Food Standards Agency have announced they are stepping up action to protect the public’s health following the recent outbreaks.
The BEIC reiterated its advice that consumers and also caterers should look for the British Lion mark to find safe eggs to eat, but it criticised the UK Government for taking so long.
Andre Parker, chairman of the BEIC said: “It is ridiculous that two years after the problem with Spanish eggs first became apparent no action has been taken. It is now time for the UK Government to ban Spanish eggs.”
“Since the introduction of the British Lion programme in 1998, we have seen cases of salmonella in humans plummet in the UK. This situation is now being threatened by the continued use of cheap Spanish eggs by some caterers.”
Last week’s Grocer magazine reported that Edwina Currie is set to launch British Egg Week sixteen years after she almost killed off the British egg industry with a salmonella scare.
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