Edwina Currie Praises British Lion Scheme
UK - Two and a half decades after the salmonella in eggs crisis, Edwina Currie has praised the British egg industry for the work it has done, particularly through the British Lion mark, in effectively eliminating salmonella in eggs.
29 April 2013
3 minute read
The British Lion mark on egg shells and egg boxes means that the eggs have been produced to the highest standards of food safety.
More than 85 per cent of UK eggs are now produced to Lion Quality standards.
British Lion Code of Practice
The Lion mark was re-introduced in November 1998 to denote eggs produced to a stringent new Code of Practice incorporating the latest research and advice on Salmonella and eggs from scientists and vets. Latest controls in the Lion Code of Practice, which are additional to current UK and EU legislation, include:
- Vaccination of hens producing Lion Quality eggs against Salmonella Enteritidis.
- A registration and 'passport' system ensuring complete traceability of Lion Quality eggs, hens and feed.
- Increased hygiene controls and Salmonella testing right through the production system.
- Stringent feed controls, including production of feed to Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) standards and a ban on the yolk colourant canthaxanthin.
- Lion Quality eggs stamped on farm with the farm code and production method.
- Best-before date and Lion logo printed on the shell of Lion Quality eggs as well as on the egg box.
The Lion Quality mark, which is a registered trademark, can only be used by subscribers to the British Egg Industry Council on eggs which have been produced in accordance with UK and EU law and the Lion Quality Code of Practice.
The Lion Code of Practice is monitored by an independent agency in accordance with the EN 45011 standard. Farms and packing stations are regularly audited, including unannounced audits.
You can get further information on the Lion Quality mark by clicking here.
