Shoppers urged to check eggs for tiny red lion mark to avoid salmonella

Shoppers are urged to look for a tiny red lion mark on eggs before buying to ensure they're safe to eat, as over 90% of British eggs are produced under the British Lion scheme.

Brit Brief 19/08/2026 06:07

Shoppers urged to check eggs for tiny red lion mark to avoid salmonella — Shoppers urged to check eggs for red lion mark to avoid salmonella

Shoppers are being urged to look for a tiny red lion mark on eggs before buying them to ensure they're safe to eat.

Updated safety rules

For years, vulnerable groups including pregnant women, babies and older people were told to avoid lightly cooked or raw eggs due to salmonella risks following a major scare in the 1980s. However, these rules were updated a decade ago after the introduction of the British Egg Industry Council's Lion Code of Practice dramatically reduced infection cases.

British Lion scheme

More than 90% of British eggs are now produced under the British Lion scheme, which requires strict safety measures including vaccinating hens against salmonella and rigorous hygiene controls. According to the Food Standards Agency, the risk of contracting salmonella from these eggs is extremely low.

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Identification and availability

Former Health Minister Edwina Currie described British Lion eggs as "the safest in the world" in 2013. The eggs can be identified by a red lion image stamped on the shell, along with codes showing production method, country of origin and best-before dates.

British Lion eggs are widely available at major retailers including Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose.