The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced a major recall of eggs across the UK after imported eggs were found to contain Salmonella, a dangerous bacterium that can cause food poisoning.
Shell eggs originating from Yasensvit Ltd, Ukraine, stamped with the code 3UA1012066, are the focus of the recall. The product should be removed from sale and not consumed because Salmonella was found in it.
Symptoms and advice
Symptoms caused by Salmonella usually include fever, diarrhoea and abdominal cramps. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should stay away from work, school or nursery until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours to avoid passing the infection on to others.
Egg sampling was carried out as part of an ongoing investigation into an outbreak of Salmonella Enteritidis thought to be linked to imported eggs. The UK has seen a surge in Salmonella cases in recent months, leading health agencies to issue public warnings.
Investigation findings
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) found Salmonella Enteritidis in egg samples from one Ukrainian supplier and carried out whole-genome sequencing. This showed that the strain did not match the outbreak strains currently under investigation.
However, the strain from the eggs was linked to 36 cases of Salmonella infection reported in England in 2026.
Jacquelyn McCormick, Head of Incidents at the FSA, said: "We have identified Salmonella Enteritidis in eggs that were imported from a business in Ukraine and taken urgent action to protect public health and advised that any affected product on the UK market is withdrawn and recalled. It is important to say however that eggs produced in the UK are not affected."
Official statements
McCormick added: "Eggs bought in major supermarkets are produced in the UK, and therefore not affected by this outbreak. This issue relates specifically to eggs from one business in Ukraine, which are primarily supplied through wholesalers and the catering supply chain, but also sold at small retailers."
Hannah Charles, Lead Epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: "As part of egg testing conducted during our ongoing Salmonella outbreak investigation, we confirmed the detection of S. Enteritidis (t5.8998) in eggs imported from Ukraine and shared this information with FSA immediately to inform further food safety action to protect public health."
Charles added that the strain identified in the imported eggs is genetically different to those linked to the ongoing outbreak investigation, but is associated with 36 cases in England in 2026. In England, all Salmonella detected from patients is routinely analysed using whole-genome sequencing to help identify and investigate potential outbreaks.
The FSA is urging businesses and consumers to follow its advice in the Food Alert for Action. Consumers should not eat the affected eggs, and businesses should withdraw them and recall them where retail sales have occurred. For other eggs, thoroughly cooked and hygienically handled eggs should not present a food safety risk, though vulnerable groups should only eat raw or lightly cooked eggs with the British Lion mark or produced under the Laid in Britain scheme.
