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9 May 2001
British Lion Beats Salmonella - ACMSF report praises ‘success story’

A report by the Government’s Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) published today (9 May) has confirmed the success of the British Lion salmonella vaccination programme in overcoming salmonella in eggs.

"We are delighted that this important report has acknowledged the huge success of the UK egg industry’s salmonella eradication programme," says Andrew Parker, Chairman of the British Egg Industry Council (BEIC).

"The Lion Quality scheme is the one good news story for UK agriculture. Not only have we beaten salmonella, but increased consumer confidence means that egg sales are also now rising."

The ACMSF report shows that human cases of salmonella in England and Wales have more than halved in the three years following the introduction of the British Lion salmonella eradication programme, and are now at their lowest levels since 1985.

More than 80,000 Lion Quality eggs were independently tested last year and all were free of salmonella.

Three out of four UK eggs are currently produced under the industry’s voluntary Lion Code of Practice, a comprehensive programme incorporating the highest standards of food safety for eggs. The BEIC, which operates the Lion Code, is now calling for the Government to ensure that two of its key elements - salmonella vaccination and a ‘best before’ date stamped on every egg - are imposed on all UK eggs.

The investment made by BEIC producers in the salmonella eradication programme has been entirely voluntary. "Salmonella vaccination alone has cost our egg producers £12 million over the past three years," says Andrew Parker.

"Three-quarters of UK eggs are now covered by the Lion scheme and, following today’s ACMSF report, we believe it is now time for the Government to insist that all eggs sold in the UK are produced to these very high safety standards."

For further information, please contact Cath MacDonald or Kevin Coles on 020 7370 7411

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