§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any proposals concerning the sale to the general public of eggs which have not been graded by an authorised packer.
§ The Paliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Baroness Trumpington)In its report on salmonella in eggs, the Agriculture Select Committee drew particular attention to the fact that cracked eggs carried a greater risk of salmonella contamination; and that such eggs are often sold directly to consumers by the producer at the farm gate, door-to-door or in a public market. These direct sales by producers of their own production are not covered by the European Council regulations laying down standards for egg marketing.
Cracked eggs carry an increased risk of contamination because the cracks facilitate entry of bacteria into the inside of the egg—for example, through contact with farmyard manure or dust, which may contain salmonella. The Government therefore propose to ban the retail sale by egg producers of eggs with cracks visible to the naked eye. We have today issued a consultation document seeking the view of interested organisations on this proposal and are seeking comments within two months.
I have placed a copy of the consultation document in the Library.