The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an urgent alert over eggs currently on sale in the UK after salmonella was detected. Customers and businesses have been told to remove the affected eggs from sale and not to consume them.
The alert follows tests on eggs originating from Ukraine, which were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found salmonella enteritidis in samples from Yasensvit Ltd, Ukraine.
Outbreak and cases
In August and September, an outbreak of the infection increased, with people falling ill in Wales as well as hundreds in England, and one death. The strain found in the eggs did not match the outbreak strains currently under investigation, but it was linked to 36 cases of Salmonella infection reported in England in 2026.
The FSA has advised consumers to check the code stamped on the egg and to not eat eggs stamped with 3UA1012066, disposing of them at home. These eggs are not sold in large retailers, such as supermarkets, as most are used within the catering supply chain. However, some eggs may also be sold at small shops such as corner shops.
Advice for businesses
Food businesses have been told to check their egg supply chain and the codes stamped on eggs. It is possible eggs with this code originating from Yasensvit Ltd, Kyiv, Ukraine, may have been repacked by other businesses in the UK and have different business details and packing centre codes detailed on the outer packaging.
Businesses are advised to immediately stop using or selling eggs with the stamp 3UA1012066, undertake product withdrawals, and where there have been retail sales, to undertake product recalls. If you have been supplied with these eggs, dispose of them safely and they should not be diverted to further processing.
Symptoms and management
Symptoms of salmonella infection include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and fever, which typically develop in the 12 to 72 hours following infection. The illness usually persists for four to seven days. While diarrhoea and vomiting don't last long, they can be serious for some.
The UKHSA has given advice on how to manage symptoms: stay home and rest, drink plenty of fluids such as water or squash, take small sips if feeling sick, continue breast or bottle feeding infants offering smaller feeds more frequently if vomiting occurs, eat when able avoiding fatty or spicy food, and take paracetamol if needed.
Avoid drinking fruit juice or fizzy drinks, giving anti-diarrhoeal medication to children under 12 years, and giving aspirin to children under 16 years. If you or your child show signs of dehydration, such as dark-coloured urine or reduced urination frequency, then you should contact a pharmacist.
