A huge food safety scare involving 700,000 eggs distributed in Britain has seen major supermarkets recall their items.
Morrisons, Waitrose, Asda and Sainsbury‘s have all recalled products following revelations that eggs imported from Dutch farms had been exposed to an illegal pesticide called Fipronil.
The number of eggs thought to have been distributed in the UK has risen from 21,000 to 700,000, but the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said it‘s “very unlikely” the eggs posed a risk to public health.
British egg processors have subsequently criticised major supermarket‘s buying policies.
“The major retailers are operating to double standards when it comes to eggs,” British Lion Egg Processors chairman Ian Jones said.
“All of them stock British Lion shell eggs but they use imported eggs in many of their other foods containing eggs.
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“This is just the latest of a number of food safety issues connected to eggs produced outside of the UK in recent years.
“Consumers clearly want retailers and food manufacturers to use good-quality British ingredients that are produced to high standards of food safety, but in some prepared foods this is not the case.”
Around 85 per cent of the eggs consumer in Britian are produced here, but this still leaves two billion eggs being imported annually.
Although the FSA have stated that due to the contaminated eggs being used in cooked food and dilutes with other non-contaminated eggs the risk to public health was very low, consumption of Fipronil can still cause adverse side effects. These include sweating, nausea, vomiting, head and stomach pain, dizziness and seizures, according to the US National Pesticide Information Centre.
Here is the Food Standards Agency list of egg products withdrawn due to a contamination scare.
:: By Sainsbury’s Ham and Egg Salad – 240g – August 9-14
:: By Sainsbury’s Potato and Egg Salad – 300g – August 9-14
:: Morrison’s Potato and Egg Salad – 250g – August 13
:: Morrisons Egg and Cress Sandwich – Sold in Morrisons Cafe only – August 11
:: Morrisons Cafe Sandwich Selection – Sold in Morrisons Cafe only – August 11
:: Waitrose Free Range Egg Mayonnaise Deli Filler – 240g – August 13-16
:: Waitrose Free Range Reduced Fat Egg Mayonnaise Deli Filler – 170g – August 14
:: Waitrose Free Range Egg and Bacon Deli Filler – 170g – August 14- 16
:: Asda Baby potato and free range egg salad – 270g – August 9-14
:: Asda Spinach and free range egg snack pot – 110g – August 9-13
:: Asda FTG Ham and Cheddar ploughman’s salad bowl – 320g – Aug 9-13
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