SUPERMARKETS have come under attack for their buying policies after eggs contaminated with the insecticide Fipronil were brought into the UK from the Netherlands.
Around 180 Dutch farms, including egg farms, are believed to have used a product containing Fipronil to treat red mite in poultry houses even though Fipronil is banned for use around food-producing animals in the EU.
Ian Jones, chairman of British Lion Egg Processors, said: “The major retailers are operating to double standards when it comes to eggs. All of them stock British Lion shell eggs but they use imported eggs in many of their other foods containing eggs.”
He said this was just the latest in a number of food safety issues connected to eggs produced outside of the UK in recent years.
Jones continued: “Consumers clearly want retailers and food manufacturers to use good quality British ingredients that are produced to high standards of food safety, but in some prepared foods this is not the case.”
Mike Edmunds, managing director of Trade Interchange, said: “If businesses are not able to efficiently track their supply chain they are at risk of reputational damage which can lead to customers going elsewhere.”
Food Standards Scotland has traced affected products, mostly cooking ingredients and sandwich fillings, and had them withdrawn from sale.
A Food Standards Scotland spokesperson said: “The number of eggs involved represents only a fraction of a single percentage of the eggs we consume in the UK every year.
“Taking into account how these eggs have been used as an ingredient in processed products such as sandwiches and salads, it is unlikely there is a risk to anyone’s health.
“Our advice is that there is no need for people to avoid eggs or products containing them.”
