The eggs should be thrown away and not eaten
Check the eggs for a certain code (Image: Ekaterina Goncharova via Getty Images)
Anyone with eggs bearing a specific batch code has been advised not to consume them and to dispose of them immediately after Salmonella was detected . Posing a serious risk of food poisoning, common symptoms of Salmonella typically include fever, diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
Those experiencing symptoms are urged to remain at home and away from work, school or nursery, until they have been symptom-free for at least 48 hours to prevent the spread of the illness to others. UK households and businesses have been put on alert after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued an official food warning. The eggs, originating from Yasensvit Ltd, Ukraine, are stamped with the batch code 3UA1012066.
The FSA has called for all affected eggs to be pulled from sale and not eaten. It added: “All eggs with the code 3UA1012066 should be withdrawn from the market and recalled from consumers. These eggs should not be consumed.”
Recalled eggs
Raw shell-on eggs
- Product code: 3UA1012066
- From: Yasensvit Ltd, Kyiv, Ukraine
- Pack size: All sizes
- Best before: All dates
What do customers need to do?
The FSA said: “Consumers should check the code stamped on the egg; do not eat eggs stamped with 3UA1012066. Instead, dispose of them at home.
“These eggs are not sold in large retailers, like supermarkets. Most are used within the catering supply chain; however, some eggs may also be sold at small shops such as corner shops.”
What should businesses do?
Food businesses have been urged to check their egg supply chain and the codes they use. The FSA added: “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.
The eggs have product code 3UA1012066 (Image: FSA)
“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. These eggs should not be diverted to further processing.”
Symptoms of Salmonella
Salmonella represents a group of bacteria responsible for one of the most prevalent forms of food poisoning. The majority of people contract the infection by consuming contaminated food.
The bacteria can be present in foods including eggs, chicken, pork and dairy products. Fruit and vegetables may also harbour the bacteria if they have come into contact with livestock, manure or untreated water. In rare instances, Salmonella can also spread through close contact.
The UK Health Security Agency states that symptoms generally include diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and occasionally vomiting and fever. These normally emerge between 12 and 72 hours following infection, with the illness typically lasting four to seven days.
For the majority of individuals, symptoms resolve without intervention, although certain groups face a heightened risk of more serious illness. Certain vulnerable groups are strongly advised to exercise particular caution when eating eggs: elderly people, pregnant women, young children and those with a compromised immune system, including people undergoing cancer treatment, kidney or liver failure, uncontrolled diabetes, steroid treatment or chemotherapy.
The UK Health Security Agency recommends consuming British Lion-marked eggs and, when dining out, ensuring that eggs are fully cooked throughout.
It said: “This means avoiding dishes such as soft-boiled or poached eggs, fresh mayonnaise, mousses, soufflés and hollandaise sauce, unless you know the eggs used meet these assurance standards.”