Members will be pleased to learn that the “Laid In Britain” Assurance Scheme had it’s first full review by the Food Standards Agency very recently, after a few “covid delays”, which was successfully completed to the satisfaction of all.
No major non-compliances were found and the Food Standards Agency were happy to continue to endorse “Laid In Britain” eggs as a very low risk of contamination with salmonella, along with the advice they could be eaten by all vulnerable groups and in any state of presentation.
It was interesting that the Food Standards Agency personnel found the meeting most valuable to help them gain insight into all that troubles our industry currently and within the last year, along with predictions for the future.
It was again pointed out how valuable it would be to insist all egg producers retailing egg should be required to belong to a fully recognised Assurance Scheme. The Food Standards Agency had long ago intended for this, yet we are still to see it prevail.
It was highlighted how, especially in the current climate, eggs were sometimes being sourced “from wherever they could be”, which cannot be to the Agency’s ideal.
More regular meetings will take place in the future with our blessing to help them gauge the situations facing all egg producers and to help them with advising government and legislation.
