Egg contamination spreads to liquid egg products

By Matt Atherton

- Last updated on GMT

The FSA has revealed 14 recalls prompted by fears the products were produced with imported liquid eggs contaminated with fipronil
The FSA has revealed 14 recalls prompted by fears the products were produced with imported liquid eggs contaminated with fipronil

Related tags Egg Food standards agency

The probe into imported egg products contaminated with the insecticide has spread to food products made with imported liquid eggs, manufacturers have been warned, after Professor Chris Elliott predicted an intensification of the scandal last week.

While the contamination posed no threat to human health, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed 14 liquid egg product recalls over fears they contained fipronil. Most of the products – which included those by Henrysons Foods, Foodspeed and Braehead – were distributed to food manufacturers and caterers, the FSA said.

The products were being recalled because the insecticide, used to control ticks, lice and other pests, is banned for use in food-producing animals. It came after the FSA revealed about 700,000 eggs potentially contaminated with the insecticide had been imported into the UK.

‘Withdrawn immediately’

FSA chairman Heather Hancock said: “Our advice remains clear – there’s no need to change how you buy or consume eggs. We are responding very quickly to any new information, to ensure that any products left that contain egg from the affected farms is withdrawn immediately.

“We're doing this because fipronil is not authorised for use in food producing animals, not because we are concerned about any risk to health.”

See below for a full list of recalled liquid egg products.

The recalls came after Elliott predicted more revelations to come​ in the European egg scandal. The contamination would be found in many more European coutries before it was over, said the chair of food safety at Queen’s University Belfast.

Meanwhile, the British Lion Egg Processors has repeated calls for manufacturers to use British eggs, after the latest fipronil-related recalls.

‘Opportunity for food manufacturers’

British Lion Egg Processors chairman Ian Jones said: “This is a great opportunity for food manufacturers, caterers and retailers to listen to their customers and reassure them by specifying the use of British eggs and using the British Lion eggs logo on packs.

“Consumers are used to buying British Lion shell eggs, and our research shows they also expect retailers, caterers and foods manufacturers to use high quality British eggs in food products. They also want more transparency on food packaging – at present consumers are not able to make an informed purchasing decision.”

The latest recalls came after the FSA recalled a wide range of food products last week, over contamination fears. Last week’s recalls – including Sainsbury and Asda salads – came after the FSA had previously told FoodManufacture.co.uk that there was no evidence of any contamination in the UK.

Liquid egg recalled products

  • Henrysons Foods International – Cocovite Egg White – Best before 14/09/17
  • Henrysons Foods International – Cocovite Carton Whole Eggs (1kg) – Best before 15/09/17
  • Henrysons Foods International – Cocovite Egg Yolk (1kg) – Best before 15/09/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite Liquid Egg Yolk cartons (2kg) – Use by 21/09/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite Liquid Whole Egg cartons (10kg) – Use by 04/10/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite 1kg Liquid Whole Egg cartons (1kg) – Use by 18/08/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite Liquid Egg Yolk cartons (1kg) – Use by 10/10/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite 1kg Liquid Egg White cartons (1kg) – Use by 21/09/17
  • Foodspeed – Cocovite Liquid Egg White cartons (1kg) – Use by 21/09/17
  • Richard Wellocks & Sons – Cocovite Liquid Egg Yolk cartons (1kg) – Use by 06/10/17
  • SFD (GB) – Cocovite Egg Yolk Pasteurised (1kg) – Use by 15/09/17
  • Braehead Foods – Cocovite Egg Yolk Pasteurised (1kg) – Use by dates 09/10/17 – 10/10/17
  • Braehead Foods – Cocovite Egg White Pasteurised (1kg) – Use by dates 09/10/17 – 10/10/17
  • Braehead Foods – Cocovite Whole Liquid Egg carton (1kg) – Use by dates 09/10/17 – 10/10/17

Related news

Show more

Follow us

Featured Jobs

View more

Webinars

PRODUCTS & SERVICES