The new advice follows the publication of a detailed review by Government food safety advisors which concluded that the major reduction in risk from UK eggs in recent years meant that the FSA should amend its views.

The old advice, that vulnerable groups should avoid raw or lightly cooked eggs, was introduced after the Edwina Currie Salmonella scare in 1988.

FSA said: "The reason for this is that in recent years the presence of Salmonella in UK hen shell eggs has been reduced greatly, this is particularly the case for those eggs produced under the Lion coded quality assurance scheme which comprises a suite of additional control measures."

Andrew Joret, chairman of the British Egg Industry Council, which runs the British Lion scheme, welcomed the change in advice: "This is a great success story for British agriculture.

"The investment we have made in eliminating salmonella and the safety record of British Lion eggs means that we have been confident for some time that even vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, babies and elderly people should be able to consume them when runny.

"The new advice is particularly relevant for mothers as health experts say that eggs are an important food for them and their babies, containing many nutrients that are important in both pregnancy and weaning. Emerging research also suggests that introducing eggs early in the weaning process may help reduce the risk of the baby developing an egg allergy."