Findings from the government’s survey into salmonella in eggs—which were due to be revealed earlier this month—have been put on hold due to "administrative problems" says the Food Standards Agency.
The FSA conducted the survey over a period of five months between March and July of last year. Although the original plan was to collect samples from packing centres, the eggs were taken from retail outlets because an acceptable protocol could not be agreed upon by the FSA and the egg industry as a result of the agency’s insistence on a ’name and shame’ policy.
The aim of the survey was to establish the prevalence of salmonella contamination in UK produced eggs on retail sale and whether this had changed since the previous retail survey conducted in 1995/6. Then it was revealed that 0.99% of samples tested were contaminated, representing 1 in 600 eggs.
Since then the Lion code has introduced compulsory vaccination against salmonella and this has been one of the major selling points for the brand and has been responsible for renewed consumer confidence in eggs.
"The Lion scheme has led to a marked reduction in the incidence of salmonella in eggs," said BEIC chairman Andrew Joret. "We are confident that this will be reflected in the results of this latest survey.
