Caterers must now use Lion Eggs

CATERERS MUST NOW USE LION EGGS Following an outbreak of salmonella food poisoning reported in the Public Health Laboratory Services' Communicable Disease Report, British Lion Quality egg producers are horrified that some care homes are still not using Lion Quality eggs, which guarantee they come from hens which have been vaccinated against salmonella. In light of the outbreak in a care home in Wiltshire, in which two people reportedly died after eating eggs from non Lion sources, Lion Quality egg producers are urging all catering establishments to use only Lion Quality eggs to ensure the highest possible standards of food safety. Independent laboratory tests on 150,000 Lion Quality eggs over the past two years have all tested negative for salmonella. The Lion Quality mark guarantees that the eggs are from British hens vaccinated against salmonella and are produced under a rigorous Code of Practice unparalled in the food industry. Following the introduction of the Lion Quality scheme in Autumn 1998, it has helped cut salmonella food poisoning in the human population by 54% over the past three years. Andrew Parker, Chairman of the BEIC, said: "We obviously sympathise deeply with those affected by this outbreak. Fortunately, with 75% of the eggs sold in the UK bearing the Lion mark, outbreaks such as these have generally become a thing of the past. What we must now do is ensure that all eggs are produced to the same high standards as those under the Lion Quality mark. "We are concerned that there are still a number of caterers who are putting other things before the safety of those in their care. We would urge caterers to ensure they are using the safest eggs, which means those that conform to Lion Quality standards. "Customers should also remember that only eggs stamped with the British Lion Quality mark are guaranteed to be produced to the strict standards covered by the Lion Quality code and they therefore should insist that only Lion eggs are served." For further information please contact Kevin Coles or Cath MacDonald, British Egg Information Service on 020 7370 7411 ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/12/20020412BIT00510/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/12/20020412BIT00510/wkr0002.pdf